Almost Home by Joan Bauer

There are many wonderful things about being a middle school librarian.  Getting to read amazing books by fantastic authors is indeed high on the list.  

I've long been a fan of Joan Bauer's work and I'm especially fond of her underdog-makes-good stories like Hope was Here and Rules of the Road.  She just has this magical way of writing that always makes me feel like her characters are not only actual people, but people that I know and love. 

Sugar Mae Cole might just be one of my all-time favorite characters, and that's saying something!  I absolutely love her voice, and her wisdom, and her strength throughout all her many trials and tribulations.  

Hard times hit Sugar and her sweet mama Reba, leaving them homeless and in charge of a puppy named Shush.  They may be down, but don't count them out! Saving their world and impacting those around them with their sweetness-and-strength combination makes this book a fun and inspiring read.

Grab it up and get cozy in a comfy chair---

Read on, Gentle Readers; Read on...

Mrs. S

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

I'll let you in on a little secret....I have a thing for fairy tales. 

Way back when, as a tiny little thing, my mom read fairy tales to me at bedtime.  I went to sleep each night with visions of lovely dresses swirling to the music as my prince charming locked eyes with me across a crowded room.  I suppose it was around third grade when I began systematically checking out EVERY single book on fairy tales in the Sherman Public Library.  I literally read everything held in 398.2.  I delighted in learning about tales from various lands and loved the heft of the old books, with the plain old-fashioned covers that held dazzling stories of magic and beauty.  The books themselves, were like the quintessential fairy tale sorceress hiding her beauty to see who was kind and generous to her anyway...and I was the kid lucky enough to find them, to know that these books shimmered.

So, I suppose it isn't a real surprise then, to tell you I'm a fan of Alex Flinn's work.   Her stories are...well, Bewitching (clever, no?).  I've had so many students ask if there will be a sequel to Beastly----I really never imagined there would  be, but I'm thrilled Flinn has come out with her latest book!  And the cover is truly lovely---no longer the crone hiding her identity, but showing up in her loveliest incarnation.

Bewitching takes a closer look at Kendra, the witch from Beastly. 

Once upon a time, in the year 1666, our Kendra was a teenager living in  England. Tragically, she lost all family members except a younger brother to the plague.  Determined to save him, she seeks out her friend Lucinda, a woman said by some to be a witch, for a cure.  Finding Lucinda already gone, she and young Charlie set out--knowing they must leave their village.  Half-starved and not realizing her own powers, she and Charlie come across a dear little house---could it be?---made of GINGERBREAD in the forest.  Ravenous, they begin to eat---meaning only to take a little, but finding it so tasty and delicious they nibble more and more.  Enter the witch....

Bewitching weaves the story of the long-lived Kendra with the story of Emma--in a great Cinderella twist--and her step-sister Lucinda.  As Kendra decides whether or not to step in and offer assistance to Emma, we learn about various times Kendra's assistance....well, went rather awry.  I'm sure you've heard about the Princess in the Pea?  The Little Mermaid?  Yep, not all of Kendra's spells come out quite like she intends....so the question of whether to help Emma or not is of valid concern, for sure!  I mean, she actually likes Emma---she has a real friend for the first time in years...what if something goes horribly, horribly wrong?
I won't tell you everything, of course...but be warned!  The book itself is too delicious to be ignored, and once you get a little nibble, you too will want more and more.

Read on, Gentle Readers; Read on,
Mrs. S.

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge

Hathin is a member of the Lace, an ancient tribe of outcasts who wear constant smiles which show the glitter of their jeweled teeth.   She is the constant companion and caretaker of her sister Arilou, a member of the Lost---a group of people who have the ability to travel without their bodies and can, in fact, separate all their senses to experience different things at the same time.  For years their village has helped to hide signs that perhaps Arilou is not what she seems, and this ruse is threatened by the arrival of a set of Lost Inspectors. 

When the unthinkable happens and their village is destroyed Hathin knows it is up to her to save them  both.  She leads them to find a mysterious rogue group of Lace and begins her quest for vengeance by receiving the butterfly tattoo--the mark of the revengers. 

"Our enemies think that Lace make good victims and scapegoats.  They are wrong.  They think that they can strike at us and we will do nothing but scatter and hide.  They are wrong.

"You have been wronged beyond endurance by powerful foes, Hathin.  Pity them for not knowing what that means..."

This book is a gorgeous, lush, magical work.  It has lovely, rich characters and a haunting storyline; the stuff of dreams, and of nightmares.  Fraces Hardinge takes bits of many tribal cultures--their legends and  unique beliefs and weaves them together with a heaping dose of her own imagination to create a powerful story. 

I highly recommend this one, as well as her gorgeous Fly By Night novel.  For more information on s. Hardinge, you can visit her online at http://www.franceshardinge.com/.

Read on, gentle readers; read on.
s

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Tons of reading going on this summer, as usual.  I am always looking for books that I not only enjoy, but that I think my students will enjoy, as well.  One genre that I've loved since childhod is the fairy tale.  I suppose it is the mystery of magical beings and wishes come true that have always led me back to them.  I remember as a small kid I read and reread every fairy tale compilation that our public library owned.

The love of fairy tales has never left me, and while I do enjoy the 398.2 section of the library, I adore the new bunch of novelized fairy tales, Princess of Glass, among them. 

In this sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball (you don't have to read it first to totally get into this book), Jessica Day George spins a lovely retelling of the classic Cinderella story. 

Princess Poppy is sent on a political "royal exchange program" in a neighboring kingdom.  While there she meets a handsome young prince named Christian and a rather strange servant named Eleonora, and they all become intangled in a sinister magical plot by the evil godmother known as "The Corley". 

Filled with just the right amount of intrigue and romance, sprinkled with a liberl dose of magic, this book is a lovely read for those of you who also enjoy spending time in a world where wishes and magical dancing shoes really do exist. 

Read on, gentle readers; read on!
s

Payback Time

I was lucky enough to meet the fantastic Carl Deuker at TLA and pick up a copy of  this spring .  He is a thoroughly lovely individual.   So talented, yet so humble.  And do I ever admire the fact that he is able to find time to write his novels while still teaching 6th grade full time.  The man is an absolute wonder. 

I picked up an ARC for his newest work, Payback Time, and couldn't wait to read it---because to know Carl's work is to love Carl's work.  Payback Time is no exception, and may, in fact, be my new favorite of his. 

Daniel "Mitch" True is determined to be a famous reporter some day.  He wants to live in NYC and study at Columbia.  He wants to have his name known as a journalistic bigwig.  For now, though, Mitch is stuck at Abraham Lincoln High School in Seattle. 

After losing out on the editor's job of his school newspaper he realizes that perhaps head sports reporter isn't so bad.  After all, there is a chance of getting a byline in a real newspaper and kids mainly read the sports section of the school news anyhow.  Besides which...there is working with Kimi.  Kimi is the school's sports photographer, not to mention being both beautiful and brilliant.  Yeah, working with Kimi wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 

While on assignment Mitch and Kimi begin to notice that something about the new kid on the football team just doesn't add up.  He has an amazing arm...when he thinks no one is looking.  He wants nothing to do with the rest of the team---or anyone else for that matter.  And so, the investigation begins.  What Mitch and Kimi uncover is unexpected and quite possibly dangerous for everyone involved.  You'll be amazed when....


Now, do I EVER give out all the goods on my book reviews?  Of course NOT.  I will include, however, for your reading pleasure,  a snippet I particularly like:

Once, when my dad and I were talking about college, he told me that I could major in anything I wanted as long as it wasn't philosophy.  "What's wrong with philosophy?" I asked.

"The logic part is useless," he said.  "People have never been and never will be logical."

 Now, go read the rest of it for yourself.  It comes out officially on September 6th and I can promise you it will take you on a thrilling ride filled with mystery and shocking secrets. 

And for me, hope.  Meeting Mr. Deuker really helped inspire me to find the time to write again.  This is something I struggle with, as it can be difficult to meld my dreams of writing with my real life time commitments.  I've heard so many authors talk about their amazing writing groups and how they structure their day and write for hours at a time.  That is great, except that I work full time (love my day job) and am a mom of two girls, a girl scout leader, a PTA board member....you know, my life is already full of real life obligations that I love, but make it difficult to find time to write.  So, thank you, Mr. Deuker.  You have inspired this librarian to remember her dreams of writing are important, too. 

Read on, gentle readers; read on.
Mrs. S

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising by Jason Henderson

I've posted recently about the mounds of vampire fiction hitting the scene lately--not a complaint, mind you, just a fact.  I'm  at least a moderate fan of most of it---but my husband just can't stomach the thought of nice vampires.  We've had ---may I point out---ridiculous discussions on how that wouldn't happen "in real life".  Um, yeah, babe....no kidding.  I'm sure vampires wouldn't be particularly chummy in real life. 
Vampire Rising is a vampire book for boys (although girls will love it too) and I LOVE that we finally have one on the scene. 

Alex Van Helsing is a 14-year-old recently sent to boarding school in Switzerland.  Yeah, he's heard the stories related to his name his whole life, but he knows thats just fiction.  Right?  After a couple of very strange incounters with what could only be described as otherworldly opponents he begins to wonder.  He does, of course, find out that he is indeed a part of the legacy that the world thinks of as only fiction---he is a vampire hunter.

And these vampires aren't nice or vegan or friendly.  The action is kickin' and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I love the twist thrown in at the end, by the way; and the literary references make this librarian's heart sing. 

This is Jason Henderson's first novel for teens---and I'm happy to give big props to this Texas author for delivering a thrilling ride!  I look forward to the next installment.

You can check out more about Jason at: http://www.alexvanhelsing.com/

Ruined by Paula Morris

I just love a good mystery.  Really, they're quite hard to beat.  And this one, set in one of my all time favorite places on earth--New Orleans--is filled with spooky goodness. 

Rebecca, a New Yorker, goes to live with family friends while her dad is off working in China.  15 year old Rebecca is hardly pleased.  Leaving her friends, her school, and her beloved NYC behind is difficult---not to mention not seeing her dad for such a long period of time.  Life in the Big Easy is anything but---her new classmates are mostly snotty rich kids coming from old Garden-district families.  Her "aunt" reads tarot cards in the Quarter.  Things do not go well.

Rebecca meets a strange girl at Lafayette Cemetary one day.  Her new friend Lisette turns out to be a key player in this ghostly mystery. 

Haunting and beautiful, and filled with New Orleans flavor from the food (I can almost smell the gumbo) to Mardi Gras, this tale is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat...just waiting to see what lurks around the next corner.  Ooh, and the twists and turns....Fabulous.  Perk some Cafe du Monde java and make some fresh hot beignets and read away!
Be sure to follow the Cafe du Monde link above--great site with great goodies. 

The Blog is officially up!

After getting over being miffed about the mascot name change at my school which precipitated my blog name change I've decided to run with it and be grateful for the change.  That's the ladylike thing to do, right?


I found this background, which is, of course, completely and totally sassy, but perhaps a bit loud for me.  We'll see.  It may grow on me.  At any rate I'm working while the baby sleeps so I'm *again* going to just choose to be grateful that the blog is up, and according to the sight I pulled the background from, the cutest blog on the block.


My plan for this blog is to have my book reviews & other library info, along with my random literary (or otherwise) musings.  KnightsReadBooks was built with my students in mind.  This one?  While my students are welcome and heartily invited to partake of the literary bounty, this one is purely just to fulfill my apparent need to write (even in small bits).  I find it incredibly satisfying to finish a blog post as opposed to my ever-ongoing novel, which WILL get finished at some point.  :)


BTW, great action figure, huh?  I mean, you know you've REALLY made it when you have a flippin' action figure, right?  You can grab one for yourself (or some almost-equally great bacon bandaids should you find yourself in need) from the fabulous Archie McPhee company by visiting  http://www.mcphee.com/.

Read on, gentle readers.  Read on.