Dance to the Music of Books

30 December
2007

A truly hilarious comic

[Books that make me laugh out loud] [Fun reads]

The collection of the Unshelved comics is so funny. It doesn't matter whether you spend a lot of time at libraries or not. It is irreverent, edgy, and funny. Written by a librarian and software designer, it makes you see libraries as a microcosm of life.
Click here

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31 December
2007

Gossamer

by Lois Lowry

[Favorite read alouds] [Fun reads] [Early Reader] [Middle Reader]

Ever wonder where dreams come from? Lois Lowry has imagined a world of dream givers, whose job is to collect memory fragments and bestow them on humans as they sleep. This is the story of one of the dream givers, the Littlest One and the humans to whom she bestows. The characters Lowry creates are vivid and real. Lowry is a master of psychic distance, where you feel fully immersed in the story as well. It reminded me of a beautifully wrapped present. Everything from the outside in is wonderful and enjoyable.
Read aloud 7-10
Read alone 9-12

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Mara Daughter of the Nile

Eloise Jarvis McGraw

[Fun reads] [Historical Fiction] [Romance] [YA] [Ancient Egypt]

Mara, a slave girl in ancient Egypt finds herself as a double spy. Caught between Thutmose III and Hatshepsut’s factions, Mara uses her wits and exhibits bravery as she tries to stay alive and win her freedom. This is a story with a strong heroine and is set during a fascinating time in Egypt’s history. Although many of the facts about the time are accurate, the dialogue is mid-twentieth century, which right now feels old-fashioned to most teenagers! Given the romantic overtones, though no graphic detail, this book will be a turn off to girls who aren’t at least in middle school.

ages 12-15

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Great books for Early Readers

[Early Reader] [Memorable books from my childhood]

Here is a list of great books for children at the end of 1st grade. Some of the books are for more advanced readers. Hopefully I'll have time in the near future to write a separate entry for each:

Herbie Jones

The Lemonade Trick

Betsy-Tacy

Key to the Treasure

My Father’s Dragon

Henry Huggins

The Great Brain

Horrible Harry in Room 2B

Rip Roaring Russell

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Help I’m Prisoner in the Library

Charlotte’s Web

The Littles

The Boxcar Children

The Courage of Sarah Noble

The Slumber Party Secret (Nancy Drew Notebooks)

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Kathy Mallory - a fascinating character

author - Carol O'Connel

[Books that keep you up at night] [Mysteries]

If you are looking for a classic mystery series with a central crime that moves the plot forward with a intriguing and never boring protagonist, then look no further. Start with Mallory's Oracle and keep reading through Find Me. I've been reading this series since it was first published, and it is a real treat. O'Connell is a master of character development.

The main character, homicide detective, Kathy Mallory, is beautiful, brilliant, and as ruthless as the killers she chases. Her life as a street kid has left her scarred, but growing up as foster child to Helen and Louis Markowitz, a cop who took her off the streets, she develops her own code that appears to let her operate on the right side of the law - most of the time.

Here is a classic quote from one of the books,''Dead Famous:"
Mallory needs a parking space that has just been taken. She tells the pudgy driver to move his car, so she can keep tailing her suspect.

'"Yeah, lady,'' he says, ''Over my dead body." And she raised one eyebrow to indicate that this might be an option. The long slants of her eyes were unnaturally green -- unnaturally cold. A milk-white hand rested on the door of his car, long red fingernails tapping, tapping, ticking like a bomb, and it occurred to him that those nails might be dangerous.''

So Mallory shows her gun, but not her badge. The man moves his car.

''Kathy Mallory had a detective's gold shield, but she rarely used the badge to motivate civilians. Listening to angry tirades on abuse of police power was time-consuming; fear was more efficient.''

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