Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Stephanie's uncle has just passed away and has left her almost everything. Unfortunately, others out there want what Stephanie's uncle has left her!! Luckily for her she gets a new protector and mentor. Unluckily for her he is a fire throwing, magic wielding skeleton, and he is one of the good guys. Stephanie is amazed by this new world she has been drawn into with magic and secrets. Skulduggery and Stephanie set out to figure out her uncle's death and protect the item left the her that the bad guys are after.  This is a delightful book.  I really enjoyed the characters! 

What I read over the 3 day weekend and snow day.....

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan- Another triumph by Mr. Riordan.  This is the second in the series about the demigods of Norse mythology gods.  Thor has lost his hammer and Magnus and his friends face death, again, to find it.  I love Rick Riordan's different mythology series.  Even though it is fiction, you still learn a lot about the Norse gods and the action is always great.

 Stork by Wendy Delsol: Speaking of Norse gods, some of them are referenced in this fantastic new book and I knew who they were because of reading Magnus Chase.  This is a fantastic story about Katla.  Her and her mom have moved back to MN from LA and she finds she is part of an ancient society, The Storks, who assign infant souls to their earthy "vessels," (moms). She also finds out some secrets of her family and neighbors.  This book also keeps the action going.  As soon as Katla makes one discovery about her life, another one is right around the corner.  What is great about this book is that it is a trilogy and I already have the other two books at the library. 

What I read over Winter break...

The Six by Mark Alpert-great sci-fi book.  6 kids are all dying of various diseases so they are used in a military experiment where their minds are put into robot like bodies. The military has ordered this in order to fight an artificial intelligence that THEY created that is now taking over and threatening to destroy all of humankind.  Very exciting story AND there is a book two that we have in the library.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. This is a good story about friendship.  The majority of the book is about Bridget (Bridge) and her best friends Em and Tab as they make their way through 7th grade. Their "no fighting" rule gets tested this year as they start to be interested in different things.  Some of the story is told through Sherm's eyes...a boy who befriends Bridge, and part through an unnamed high school freshman.  By the end of this book, all 5 stories come together in a satisfying end.

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. Serafina has always had to stay hidden in the basement of The Biltmore Estate where her father works. But now something sinister is happening to the children that are staying at the Estate as guests and Serafina is determined to find them.  This was a can't put down mystery. Serafina has always wondered about her mother and why she doesn't seem to be like other people and along with looking for the missing children, she is looking for answers about herself.  This also has a book two that I bought for the library, so you have that to look forward to also.

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Git Varadarajan  I REALLY liked this book. Joe has always lived in his small town and Ravi is brand new from India.  They couldn't be more different, but could they still be friends? This is a book about not judging people by first impressions and seeing what they are really about before you pass judgement.  I found this an easy to read, delightful story.  

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Fans of "Because of Winn-Dixie" will really love Kate DiCamillo's new book.  Raymie Nightingale is a beautifully told story about 3 girls that meet under unusual circumstances in 1975.  All three are taking baton lessons, but the lessons are going horribly. What grows from these lessons is the friendship between the 3. Raymie is a wonderful character. She is "plucky." She is convinced that winning the Little Miss Central Florida Tire beauty contest will make her famous and bring her father back (after he abandoned her and her mother to run off with the dental hygienist). This story is funny and touching and just delightful.

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

What a well written, moving story about being who you want to be.  Grayson knows "he" is really meant to be a "she." He lives with his Aunt and Uncle and does not feel it would be acceptable to live as "she" really wants to.  But then, a new girl comes to town and Grayson begins to take steps to live the life she was meant to live.  This books is amazing. Even if you have never met someone who is transgender, you will love Grayson. You will understand, cheer for and feel for this character.  I would love if everyone would read this book and maybe it would lead to more understanding for each other and the difficulties that each may be going through.

Seers by Kristine Bowe

This is a very unique book. Leesie has no memories of her life before she became a "Seer." Seers are people who can see into another's memories.  Leesie is a special kind of Seer, she not only can see memories, she can extract (remove) memories to help people. She has a handler and now she has a new mission. She is never given much information about her missions and she is starting to question this. This was a really fast read, and I believe it will  be a series because it left me wanting more.

Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

I wanted to read this again because it is coming out as a Netflix series soon.  I bought book 1 on Overdrive as an ebook, but there is also books 1-3 out as an ebook collection. It was as delightful as the first time I had read it.  This 13 book series is all about the Baudelaire children. After a house fire kills their parents, they have to go live with their evil uncle, Count Olaf.  He is really just after their fortune and he really is awful. I suggest reading this series (none of them are really long)  before watching the Netflix series...I ALWAYS suggest reading the books first.

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

I followed my own advice and decided to start the other series by the author I just blogged about.  I enjoyed Tiger's Curse as much as Reawakened.  This story is another romance wrapped in a mystery. This time it is a prince from India who has been cursed to live as a tiger for centuries. After caring for the tiger when she is working at a traveling Circus, Kelsey is found to be the one that can help him break the curse.  I enjoyed learning some myths and legends from India as I read this book.  Maybe too much romance for my taste, but still a great story.  This series has four books, so if you like this one, you have 3 more to look forward to.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck

This book is a great read for those of us that like the mythology of Egypt as well as adventure.  Lily seemed to "fall" for the Egyptian prince that has risen extremely quickly, which I found just a tad irritating. But, this did not stop me from enjoying this story as they make their way to Egypt and try to stop Seth, the god of chaos from rising and taking over the world.  The author did a great job creating a very vivid picture of Egypt. If you enjoy this book, you may want to try another by this author. She wrote the series: Tiger's Curse, which we have in the library. 

The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis and Gold Fish by Nat Luurtsema

Oh my goodness I really enjoyed both of these books.  Both were short and totally delightful.

The One Thing is about Maggie.  Maggie looses her sight when she gets meningitis. But, then, she meets Ben and, amazingly, she can see him. The fact that Maggie can see Ben is the focus of this story. Maggie and Ben are fantastic characters, they complement each other very well.  Maggie is angry and sarcastic and kind of mean, at times.  Ben is ever the optimist. He is generous and funny. You will like this book if you like books about overcoming difficulties.

Gold Fish is laugh out loud funny.  I really, honestly, laughed right out loud in several places.  Lou (Louise Brown) is hoping to be an olympic swimmer, but her hopes are dashed when she does poorly at the time trials.  Her friend, however, makes it to the High Performance Training Camp.  Lou isn't quite sure what to do with herself without her friend and without swimming.  Just like Maggie, in the story above, Lou has a pretty sarcastic sense of humor.  She decides to help a group of boys try out for a tv show doing underwater dancing and the results are pretty funny.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

What a heart wrenching book!  This is by the author of Between Shades of Gray, which I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED.  If you like historical fiction, than Ruta Sepetys is the author for you! This one tells the story of 4 people all affected in different ways by WW II.  All are making their way to the coast as they try to board ships to safety and freedom.  As the refugees make their way, their lives converge.  This tells the tragic story of the worst tragedy in maritime history: the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff ship.  You MUST read the author's notes after this book, she is such a thorough researcher that these notes are so informative!  I now will probably look for a nonfiction book about this topic to learn more about it.

The Edge by Roland Smith

Peak was one of my favorite novels.  It is about a boy whose father wants him to be the youngest person to summit Mt. Everest.  The Edge is another climbing adventure about Peak.  This time Peak and his mother are flown to Afghanistan to take part in a climb to promote peace. Peace is something they do not find when their climbing party is kidnapped.  This book is a suspenseful adventure that is hard to put down.  

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (READ THIS BEFORE THE MOVIE COMES OUT)

Yes, this is being made into a movie and I can't wait to see it because I really liked the book.  Conor is 13 and dealing with his mother having cancer. A monster, in the form of a yew tree, comes to help him. The monster in this book is scary, but also protective and at times funny in his dealings with Conor.  He won't tell Conor directly why he is there to help him, he tells stories to help Conor figure out why he called the monster.  You might be interested to know that the author, Patrick Ness, was asked to write this story based on an idea of another author, Siobhan Dowd, after she died of cancer at age 47.

What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott

WOW!  This is like a horror movie in book form!!  Kids lost in the woods, ghost stories told that seem to be coming true, creepy laughter that seems to be following and taunting them.  This fast paced novel will keep you  reading...I was surprised by the twist it took at the end.

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

If you liked Mr. Lemoncello's Library you will really like this book. Emily's family lands in San Francisco (they move almost every year in a quest to live in all 50 states). This move brings Emily a new friend AND an adventure. San Francisco is the home to Emily's hero...the founder of "Book Scavenger." Book Scavenger is a game where books are hidden, clues are given and points are earned for finding the books.  Emily and her new friend, James, get embroiled in a new hunt that no one else knows about.  This is just a fun little book, and if you like puzzles and ciphers, you are going to love it.

Other books I have read this summer...

I have been reading, reading, reading, but haven't stopped to blog, so I'm a bit behind.

Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore: What a fantastic, motivational memoir of this young man's life.  After moving to a new town after the death of his father, Wes starts making some bad choices.  He starts stealing, skipping school and hanging out on the street.  His mother decided to send him to military school and it made all the difference to this Wes Moore.  I say "this Wes Moore," because Wes becomes aware of another man with his name, that grew up with a similar background when he was young, but his life couldn't have turned out more differently.  Some of my favorite quotes of this book: " The written work isn't a chore. It can be a window into new worlds."  In speaking about a history teacher he had: "He had no interest in excuses-effort and hard work were all that mattered." And, my favorite: "Through my own experiences, I've become convinced that you have the potential to control your own life, even if the odds are against you."  I think everyone should read this book, it shows that hard work and effort can pay off.

The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold: Why do some people get miracles and others do not?  That is the question that Iris asks in this novel.  Her best friend, Sarah, has died. Her family has moved and she meets Boris. She finds out Boris is a medical miracle.  If he gets a miracle why not her? Iris is a great character. She tries very hard to put on a brave face as she handles the grief of loosing her friend.

I Love, I Hate, I Miss My Sister by Amèlie Sarn: This book has been translated from the original French novel. This is the heart wrenching story of Sohane, who looses her sister to a horrible hate crime.  It's Sohane's story of trying to be who she wants to be and accepting her sister for who she wants to be, but feeling she failed at this. Sohane's story is told in alternating chapters of "before the crime" and "after the crime."  This book was part of the Mosaic collection of multicultural literature.  Sohane and her sister are Muslim. Sohane wants to wear her headscarf to school, her sister wants to be more "western." In 2004, France passed a law that prohibited students from wearing religious symbols or religious attire.

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel:  Maisie is involved in a horrible accident that has left her badly burned. Because of this, her family decides that she should be the recipient of a face transplant. Everyone tells her how lucky she is, but Maisie doesn't feel lucky.  She doesn't even recognize her self. Great story about reinventing and re-finding yourself.

Shock Point by April Henry:  Another fantastic mystery by the author of Girl, Stolen and The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.  Cassie's step father sends her to a "boot camp" for kids who, according to their parents, are out of control. But Cassie is not out of control, she just knows something that her step father doesn't want others to know. This is a fast moving, exciting mystery!!

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin:  I couldn't put this one down.  It is an alternative history. History is full of "what-ifs." This story addresses what might have happened if Hitler and the Axis powers would have won WWII.  Yael was sent as a child to one of the concentration camps and experimented on.  Through chapters from THEN and NOW, we find out all about Yael's story.  How she escaped and became a member of the resistance movement against Hitler. Each year a motorcycle race is held to commemorate the "Great Victory." It becomes Yael's job to win this race and kill Hitler.

Last two Golden Sowers!!! Historical fiction stories of two strong girls!

The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  Ada and her brother live in London with their awful mother at the very start of WWII. Ada was born with a club foot and her mother has NEVER let her out of the house.  (SHE IS AWFUL) When Londoners become worried about bombing, they send their children off to live with others to be safe. Ada and Jamie go to live with Susan.  This was a heartwarming story of what family can be.  Sometimes families are MADE by choices not always by blood.  Ada is a fantastic character...she is strong and determined.

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper.  This book takes place in the segregated south of North Carolina in the 30's.  Stella and her family are African American, so in Bumblebee, NC, she can go into some of the stores but not all of them.  Stella and her brother JoJo witness a secret Ku Klux Klan meeting one night.  It brings their community together. This is just Stella's story. Stella wants so badly to be a good writer and she works hard to practice that as she tells her story of what's happening in her little corner of the world during this tumultuous time. Stella, like Ada, is strong and brave.  She asks great questions (which all of you know I LOVE).

4 Golden Sowers I read earlier in the year.....

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm: this was NOT what I was expecting.  This little story had the unexpected surprise of some science fiction.  11 year old Ellie hates change, that is why her parents kept replacing her goldfish when they died.  She is definitely NOT ready for the change that shows up in the form of a crabby, bossy teenage boy, ESPECIALLY when that boy turns out to be her grandfather!!  This was a very funny, entertaining story.

Beneath by Roland Smith is fantastic! Smith is the author of another of my favorite books, Peak. Pat's brother has gone missing.  Pat misses him, but hasn't been worried about him because that is just how Cooper (Coop) is. That is, until, Coop begins sending Pat recordings about what he is finding UNDER the streets of New York City.  I love reading about "counter cultures." A "counter culture" is one that exists outside what is considered "normal." Obviously, living UNDER the streets of a major city is not the norm.  This book was intriguing and exciting and I just couldn't put it down.

Loot: How to Steal a Fortune by Jude Watson is an exciting mystery.  Alfie McQuinn's father is a master cat burglar. Unfortunately, he has fallen from a roof top after his latest job.  His last words to Alfie are "find Jewels." Alfie is determined to find out what "jewels" his dad was talking about and whether or not his dad's "accident" was an accident or MURDER!!

This is a supernatural thriller that I think many of you will enjoy.  Do not read this if you don't like murder mysteries, and a little bit of gore.  Willa can communicate with the "beyond." He new house in L.A. is haunted and she is pretty sure the ghost is the victim of a serial killer that is plaguing the city.

Another 3 Golden Sower Nominees....more stories about people with "grit"

El Deafo by Cece Bell: This is the first time, that I remember, that a Golden Sower has been a graphic novel.  This is a great one!  Cece lost her hearing after an illness when she was 4. Now that she is starting school, she has to wear a LARGE hearing aid.  She doesn't want people to really know about it and she doesn't like talking about her deafness. This book is based on the author's own life.

Hunt for the Bamboo Rat by Graham Salisbury: I read this right after I had finished Dash.  It is also historical fiction. It is another view about what was going on in the world around the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Zenji is an American born in Honolulu but of Japanese descent.  He is asked to become an intelligence officer for the US Army because he speaks both Japanese and English.  This story is based upon a true story.  It was an incredible story. If you like this, you may want to now read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand.  

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff: This is a realistic fiction story about Albie.  Albie is just "almost." He is not great at anything, he is just "almost." This is Albie's story of fitting in and finding a way to "stand out."  

3 more Golden Sower Nominees...

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz: I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Nina decides to spend her summer doing 65 small "good things" for others. She does small, nice things anonymously.  I love this whole concept.  We live in an "everyone gets a trophy society" these days, people EXPECT to get praised and noticed for EVERYTHING they do.  This is a wonderful concept of just doing nice things to help people because its nice and will make them feel better without wanting anything back for yourself.  This book shows that "niceness" spreads.  Nina's efforts take on a life of their own throughout her neighborhood.  This story just makes you feel good.  I hope it inspires everyone to go out and just be nice...the world needs kindness right now.

Dash by Kirby Larson: Dash is a work of historical fiction.  Mitsi is an American citizen who just happens to be of Japanese descent.  She has never even been to Japan.  This doesn't matter to the US government after the bombing at Pearl Harbor.  They make Japanese-Americans leave their homes and enter internment camps.  Mitsi is forced to leave her dog Dash with a neighbor, and it breaks her heart.  Stories like this hurt my heart.  Blaming an entire group of people for the wrongs of others. Unfortunately, it is still happening in our world today.  Makes you want to be like Nina in the previous book and be kind for the sake of being kind.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt:  Ally can't read and she does everything in her power to make sure people don't know it.  She ends up getting in trouble at school and picked on at school.  Then, Mr. Daniel shows up as her new teacher and Ally finally gets help.  Ally is a great character, and I love Keisha and Albert, her two classmates who become fierce friends with her.  This is a great reminder that people are smart in different ways.  You can be "smart" without always getting A's in classes.  What's important is sticking with something, having the "grit" to continue to try.  Kindness would have gone a long way to helping Ally and her friends.  I hope as we read these three books, it helps us realize that we have the power to tear others down BUT we also have the power to build each other up.  We need to celebrate our differences, otherwise, what a boring world this would be.