Book Notes

Well, here it is! The title for our first ever Live Together, Read Together program.

It all begins one rainy night with a stranger standing outside Meggie’s house. A stranger that her father knows, but has never mentioned. A stranger who does not call her father Mo, but Silvertongue. A stranger named Dustfinger.

From there, Meggie and Mo are packing up and leaving their house, heading south. Along the way Meggie begins to piece together what is so special about this book named Inkheart, why her father has never read out loud to her, and what might have happened to her mother ten years ago.

I am not a real lover of fantasy as a rule, but this book I could not put down. I love the idea, the writing, the adventure. Mo is one of my favorite characters in a long time. It took me awhile, but Dustfinger is too.

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I loved this book before it was released. From the moment that I heard that my favorite writer was tackling an issue that is so dear to my heart, I was ecstatic. The book is everything that I hoped it would be.

Barbara Kingsolver and her family address local, sustainable food production. For one year they ate only what they could grow or purchase from an area farmer that they knew. The writing is eloquent, and the family’s choices rewarding. We have been sharing this title out loud and it has made for some fantastic discussion. The food choices we make have enormous impact on our towns, our economy, and our world. In the unfortunate era of global warming, the shrinking of middle America, and staggering habitat loss, our food choices make an incredible difference.

Don’t be thrown off by the fact that this is non-fiction. There is a story here. And it is engaging, witty, and well thought out. It also includes mouth-watering recipes supplied by her daughter. The recipes, and a lot more information is available on the website animalvegetablemineral.com. There is a link to it from the blog roll. A must read for everyone.

This book has only been on the shelves for a few weeks, and already it is making the rounds. It is one of our favorites. Sad and beautiful and poetic.

Kit is 16 years old when her younger brother is diagnosed with and dies from Leukemia. The novel is written in free verse (remember Out of the Dust?) and captures all the family’s emotions. The sadness, anger, emptiness, and eventually, the hope of a new but different life.

Because the novel is in free verse you can read through it so quickly. Too quickly, actually. Read it through once, to see what happens. Then read it again. And linger over every word. They are so carefully chosen. The author proves again and again that just a few words are needed to provide so much emotional impact. You definitely need a box of tissues by your side when reading this. I loved it.        

I love his work. I have so thoroughly enjoyed everything that he has come out with. Knuffle Bunny, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Now, he has come out with a new series for beginning readers. Today I Will Fly and My Friend is Sad.

Piggy and Elephant are best friends, and with just a few words, they tell a great story.   Funny, sweet–Piggy and Elephant have a great time. And this is just the beginning. Two more are coming out in the fall. And remember what I am always telling people: Just because it’s a beginning reader does not mean that it is only for beginning readers. Read it with everyone.

I just finished re-reading this book for our last 4th and 5th grade book club. The last title was “group choice” and the students all suggested titles and voted, and I, Freddy was the winner.

I have enjoyed this book each time I read it. Freddy is funny, clever and resourceful. Being a golden hampster of above average intelligence, he is adopted from the pet store by a sweet, caring little girl named Sophie. However, Sophie’s mom is not a hampster lover and Freddy soon finds himself living with Mr. John, a neighbor. He couldn’t have landed in a more perfect home. You see, Freddy loves to read, and wants to learn to write. Mr. John has a house full of books, a cat who is willing to pull them off the shelf for Freddy to read, and a typewriter. Freddy thinks the typewriter is the perfect means for him to communincate. If only he can figure out how to press down on the keys….

This is such a cute book, originally published in Germany and then translated. There are 5 Freddy books in all, so if you like this one, keep reading!

This book came highly recommended and I just finished it. Not bad. Not bad at all. I loved the beginning. When I started it, it was so captivating that little else got done. Dinners were burned, beds went unmade.

Charley, 16, has been in a coma for a year since her brother, Hal, found her lying on the rocks in the ocean. Her family is going back to their vacation house in Cornwall (lovely setting!) and that’s when the story begins. Hal can suddenly hear Charley’s voice inside his head. At first he thinks it’s only his imagination, but it isn’t. Charley can see what he sees and can talk just to him. The novel is made up of small chapters. Some from Hal Now, Hal Then, Charley Now, Charley Then. This is a brilliant set-up. The Charley now keeps saying things like, “Help me, I’m all alone, It’s dark in here and I can’t find the door.” This also allows the reader to get a glimpse into Charley’s last summer.

As things progress, and Charley becomes more insistent that Hal “remember”, Hal begins to suspect that Charley’s being in a coma is no accident.

With the setting, and pace, this is a perfect summer book. Think hot surfers and gorgeous coastline.

I finished this quick read almost a week ago and still haven’t found a moment to write about it.

I picked it up because I liked the cover, and it was recommended in the same clump of books as one of my favorites, The Whistling Season. The setting appealed to me as well: Nebraska farmland.

Sixteen year old Lila finds herself pregnant and comes to stay with her grandmother, Toby, on her farm for the summer. There are a lot of unspoken family secrets that come to the surface over the course of the summer. Some that heal, some that harm, all of them needing to be said.

It’s an easy read, and was an Alex award winner so it is appropriate for and appeals to teens. Perfect for summer time reading.

I haven’t posted anything in awhile because I have spent every free moment plowing through a re-read of the 5th Harry Potter. That is one long book. And like I mentioned before, not my favorite. I have a hard time with the death of Sirius. It seemed unreal. There was no build up to it. I thought, like Harry, that it was an accident at first. And that he wasn’t dead, just trapped in the world of the veil. Whatever that might be. Well, there’s one more book, so I guess we’ll find out.

As I write this there are 74 more days until the release of the final Harry Potter book. It will be huge everywhere. Our library included. I’m getting quite excited about the Summer Reading Program this year. All fantasy all the time. There will of course be a huge Harry Potter party. And then a Harry Potter trivia night. We’ll see how well everyone thinks they know the books. No questions will be asked on the last book. But read those first 6 carefully. You never know how detailed the questions could get!

Hooray! My reading slump is over. I just finished reading the most remarkable book. I am so glad the girls in book club chose this one. It won the Newbery Honor this year, and after reading The Higher Power of Lucky, I can’t believe it didn’t win the Newbery Medal. This one was so much better.

Catherine is 12, and her younger brother David has autism. She is frustrated with people staring at him and making fun of him. She gives him guidelines (rules) for everday life to help him get along better so that he blends in more. For both of their sakes.

Over the summer while her best friend is in California, a new girl just her age moves in across the street, and Catherine meets Jason. Her new neighbor Kristi is popular and pretty. Catherine was hoping they could be close friends, but can they when Kristi seems so awkward around people with disabilities?

Jason, is one of my favorite characters. Catherine meets him at the therapy clinic. Jason is wheelchair bound, and can’t talk. He has to point to words in his communication book. They develop a friendship, but one that Catherine only wants to have at the clinic. Can she learn to be friends with him outside of the clinic? In spite of the stares?

I absolutley adore this book! There is nothing fake about the characters. They act like real people. Nice setting too, on the coast of Maine. Definitely a must read.

I knew if I said that I was on a lucky reading streak that I would break the spell, and sure enough, I have nothing to read, and it is a rainy, drizzly day. The perfect type of day for reading a book.

It’s a very uncomfortable feeling for a reader to not have a book in hand. That’s why so many of us often have 2 or more books going at the same time so that no matter our mood we have a book ready to go that suits us. I have the 5th Harry Potter at my side, but I didn’t like all his whining in that one. I want something lovely and engaging. I read a review of a book coming out soon that looks fantastic called “When we Get There” but that won’t do me any good today. So, help me out. Give me some titles of a good, cozy book to read. I need your help!

Here is another terrific animal book. I’ve been on a lucky streak lately with my reading. Angus and Sadie are two Border Collies who are adopted as puppies by mister and missus to live with them on their farm in Maine.

The dogs each have a very specific personality. The writing is third person omniscient, so you know what everyone is thinking, including the dogs. All of their thoughts are in italics. At first they are cute, loveable puppies who get in a lot of trouble. Then they grow up and learn how to be good sheep dogs and good pets. I laughed out loud several times.

I feel a little bad for Sadie. Several time mister and Angus think that she is a slow learner, or not a good sheep dog. She’s actually great at both, she just does things differently. It takes most of the book, but eventually everyone else catches on. The story is sweet and funny, the drawings are perfect. Even the chapter titles are cute. A must read for anyone who likes dogs, farms, Maine or any animal stories.

I have not even finished this book yet, but I have to write up a review. Now, I have read Ivan Doig before and liked him just fine. But this is amazing. The writing is luxurious. I don’t know how else to describe it. Each word of every sentence is chosen with such care.

Doig is at times poetic, “The Rembrandt light of memory, finicky and magical and faithful at the same time, as the cheaper tint of nostalgia never is.” His observation unparalleled, “The pewter cast of light that comes ahead of winter crept into the schoolground as I performed the last of my winter errands, shadows growing dusky instead of sharp almost as I watched.” Not least of all is his humor and wit, “…if Father nicked himself shaving he thought he was two feet into the grave.” and “Damon’s eyes narrowed; if Aunt Eunice was on her way to the hereafter, it plainly seemed to be by a highly roundabout route.”

The writing is beautiful, the story lovely and credible. I wish the characters lived near me. I love them all, even the ones I was skeptical about at first. The setting is 1909 Montana, and the narrator is 13 year-old Paul Milliron. There is no involved overreaching plot, just the exquisitely drawn characters and their interactions with each other. I am enjoying this so much that I meter out my readings to make it last. I recommend with pleasure.

I just finished reading the sweetest book in the world. Toes is a very unusual cat. He has seven toes on each foot instead of five. His litter mates don’t want anything to do with him, afraid that they will “catch extra toes” so he heads off one night to find a place of his own.

Not only does Toes have double paws, he is extremely intelligent. He can turn on the t.v., he loves to listen to classical music, and he understands almost everything that people say. He winds up a stray cat in Sebastian Crabbe’s house. Sebastian is a very accomplished violin player, and loves having a cat around for an audience as much as Toes loves to listen to the beautiful music.

But Sebastian also has a problem. He would love to play with the Philharmonic, but he doesn’t have the confidence he needs. Toes has a plan though. And despite the fact that he is now up there in years, he will do what it takes to bring the Philharmonic to Sebastian’s house.

Of all the books I’ve read recently, this is one of my favorites. Toes is the sweetest, nicest cat. And his gentle nature makes him friends with mice, a dove, and of course, Sebastian.

Our 6th-8th grade book club just finished reading Olive’s Ocean. I was so glad when they chose this title. It is one of my absolute favorites. The writing is easy and relaxed; the characters are beautiful and real; and the overall story is believable.

Twelve-year-old Martha Boyle is preparing for her family’s annual vacation at her grandmother’s house on Cape Cod. Before she leaves, a woman knocks on her door and gives her a page from her daughter Olive’s diary. Olive was hit by a car and killed just a few weeks earlier. Before the accident Olive had written in her diary that she wanted to be a writer and live by the sea which she had never seen, all things that Martha wants to be and loves. Olive also mentioned that she thought Martha was the nicest girl in her class and she hoped to be friends with her some day.

Over the time spent at Godbee’s (Martha’s grandmother) Martha thinks about Olive and wonders why she never became friends with her, and what she can do for her now. She also spends some amazing moments with her grandmother (my favorite character in the whole book) and experiences her first kiss.

This is a fantastic read. I can’t recommend it enough.

 I finally had a chance to read Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson. (Read the review by Mrs. Thackeray in the comments section under the Hattie Big Sky post). And I loved it, first off. Unfortunately it became one of those books that sat around on my table for too long before I picked it up and started reading. The longer it was there, the less I wanted to read it. Most of it had to do with the cover.

I can’t help it; I know you’re not supposed to, but I judge books by their cover and their title. Who doesn’t? It’s human nature. But how do we get to enjoy books, and get others to enjoy books that are beautifully written, and suffer only from a poor design and unappealing title? The only way I can think of is through someone whose opinion you trust.

So often I have had the most glowing review of a book that just sounds weird (think talking dogs) but I have had good experiences with the person relaying the story so I give it a try and most of the time I enjoy it. (I did enjoy the talking dog book, by the way). Not always. No matter how similar we are to some people, they will always have some little reading quirk. A taste for vampire books, or a fondness for romance that just doesn’t work for you.

So what is the point? Don’t judge a book by its cover? Go right ahead:we do it anyway. But, read the first 5 pages before giving up on it. There might just be something fantastic in there that you never would have known about without taking the plunge and reading a little.