One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
I may have been one of the last women in the continental United States who had never read a Stephanie Plum book, but now I'm off that list. Thanks to Rhonda, my dear librarian friend, for her Facebook comment about reading the newest book, Explosive Eighteen, since that was what finally got me to flip open the cover of one. So keep in mind that I'm well aware that this review is circa 1994, but I was ten at the time and had no business reading this book then anyway.
Fun and breezy, One for the Money was definitely what I would consider a "beach read," but there's nothing wrong with that--even in January. Plum is newly unemployed, has just had her car repossessed, and needs food in her fridge. She finds herself in a position to apply for an office clerk job, but jumps at the chance to make fast cash by bringing in those who have skipped bail. Her first "client" happens to be her ex, Joe Morelli, a cop in trouble for supposedly shooting an unarmed man.
Plum quickly finds herself in a number of scrapes, but these are minor since a lunatic boxer has his heart set on torturing her. Pride and the drive to prove herself keeps her from running to the cops, and her life dangerously spins out of control.
Follow Stephanie as she tries to convince Joe to turn himself in while avoiding the wrath of a crazed fighter. I realize that statement makes this sound like a thriller, but don't let it fool you. The characters' dialogue is spicy and full of humor, which lightens the plot. Like I said, it's a fun read. I've already borrowed the next one from the library.
Target age range: adults
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Son of Neptune
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
I've been a fan of Percy Jackson since he first appeared in The Lightning Thief. Greek mythology was my favorite subject to cover while teaching reading to seventh graders--and it was undoubtedly their favorite subject to learn. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed when Percy's series ended, but Riordan brought him back in his new series, Heroes of Olympus. Like the first set of books, this deals with Greek gods and goddesses, but intertwines Roman gods into the plot. The first book in the series, The Lost Hero finds readers wondering where Percy has disappeared to, but introduces new, equally impressive characters.
However, these characters aren't in the second book (they'll be in future novels). Percy's back in Son of Neptune, although memory loss keeps him from knowing who he is, or rather, who his father is and why that's important. He makes his way into a Roman camp of demigods that's similar to Camp Half-Blood, although he's welcomed halfheartedly. Percy befriends Hazel and Frank, and the three are soon on a quest to Alaska to rescue Thanatos, Pluto's/Hades's right hand man, so the dead can stay dead. Imagine thwarting monsters to have them come back to life right in front of you. That's one of the challenges the demigods face in this book.
Kudos to Riordan for once again creating a book that hooks younger readers, particularly males. Pop culture references appear throughout the book (at one point, Thanatos whips out an iPad to check a list, and Frank prays there's not "an app for reaping souls"), making the novel relevant to readers. I love that Riordan's books open doors for children to research other topics or check out similar reads. This one is no different in that aspect; I'm sure many have compared the differences in Roman and Greek gods after starting the series.
Lovely read. Good thing three more are coming in this set. And, hey, the final in his Egyptian gods series, Kane Chronicles, is due out in May.
Target age range: 10 and up
I've been a fan of Percy Jackson since he first appeared in The Lightning Thief. Greek mythology was my favorite subject to cover while teaching reading to seventh graders--and it was undoubtedly their favorite subject to learn. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed when Percy's series ended, but Riordan brought him back in his new series, Heroes of Olympus. Like the first set of books, this deals with Greek gods and goddesses, but intertwines Roman gods into the plot. The first book in the series, The Lost Hero finds readers wondering where Percy has disappeared to, but introduces new, equally impressive characters.
However, these characters aren't in the second book (they'll be in future novels). Percy's back in Son of Neptune, although memory loss keeps him from knowing who he is, or rather, who his father is and why that's important. He makes his way into a Roman camp of demigods that's similar to Camp Half-Blood, although he's welcomed halfheartedly. Percy befriends Hazel and Frank, and the three are soon on a quest to Alaska to rescue Thanatos, Pluto's/Hades's right hand man, so the dead can stay dead. Imagine thwarting monsters to have them come back to life right in front of you. That's one of the challenges the demigods face in this book.
Kudos to Riordan for once again creating a book that hooks younger readers, particularly males. Pop culture references appear throughout the book (at one point, Thanatos whips out an iPad to check a list, and Frank prays there's not "an app for reaping souls"), making the novel relevant to readers. I love that Riordan's books open doors for children to research other topics or check out similar reads. This one is no different in that aspect; I'm sure many have compared the differences in Roman and Greek gods after starting the series.
Lovely read. Good thing three more are coming in this set. And, hey, the final in his Egyptian gods series, Kane Chronicles, is due out in May.
Target age range: 10 and up
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Book that Eats People
The Book that Eats People by John Perry
This was the book for last week's story time with kindergarten and first grade. I used it to introduce a cyber safety lesson (books can't really hurt you, but giving out personal info online can blah blah). However, it's a fun read for kids, since many of them ask for a "scary" book. Usually that is difficult with younger groups because you don't really want to scare them too badly, but this is fun/scary.
The text isn't really frightful per se, but if you change your inflections when reading, it can be suspenseful. As indicated by the title, the book --this book-- eats people. And it's always hungry. You should always assume it's hungry. The book eats a number of children who had peanut butter smudged fingers and who turned their backs on the book, but at the end, students are given four tips to avoid being consumed.
A 2012 North Carolina Children's Book Award nominee, The Book that Eats People is fun and delightfully illustrated. The kids kept their attentions on the book as each page turned, which can be difficult for a five year old. Like I said, I used it to introduce a computer safety lesson, but turn out the lights and give this one a read.
Target Age Range: 6-9 years old
This was the book for last week's story time with kindergarten and first grade. I used it to introduce a cyber safety lesson (books can't really hurt you, but giving out personal info online can blah blah). However, it's a fun read for kids, since many of them ask for a "scary" book. Usually that is difficult with younger groups because you don't really want to scare them too badly, but this is fun/scary.
The text isn't really frightful per se, but if you change your inflections when reading, it can be suspenseful. As indicated by the title, the book --this book-- eats people. And it's always hungry. You should always assume it's hungry. The book eats a number of children who had peanut butter smudged fingers and who turned their backs on the book, but at the end, students are given four tips to avoid being consumed.
A 2012 North Carolina Children's Book Award nominee, The Book that Eats People is fun and delightfully illustrated. The kids kept their attentions on the book as each page turned, which can be difficult for a five year old. Like I said, I used it to introduce a computer safety lesson, but turn out the lights and give this one a read.
Target Age Range: 6-9 years old
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School by Alexandra Robbins
I thought I'd throw in a nonfiction read for those who like to read it. The fact that I prefer fiction is probably why I thought this was not only an informative read, but actually interesting. Robbins does a good job of telling her subjects' stories in narratives that read like fiction (there's dialogue, development, etc.). The book focuses on the school lives of six different people throughout the United States; these people are the "Cafeteria Fringe" or outsiders in their school/social communities. Joy is a new girl from Jamaica, Blue is a gamer, Eli is a nerd, Noah is a band geek, Danielle is a loner, Regan is a lesbian, and Whitney is a self-proclaimed popular bitch. All of these people face hardships in their social lives, even though they have different experiences and different places on the social spectrum. Robbins issues each subject a challenge during the school year that will [hopefully] change their social lives without forcing them to conform or change their own personalities in order to fit into a group.
Honestly, I think that this book should be required reading for any student attending school to be a teacher. It's not uncommon knowledge that middle and high school is hellacious for students who don't fit the social mold--are you rich enough/smart enough/thin enough/hip enough/athletic enough/vapid enough--but this looks into the problems that administrators and teachers have when it comes to allowing such behavior. Not all teachers and principals are guilty of protecting the social hierarchies established by teens, but some do grant favors or look the other way based on who is popular. I'm not naïve enough to think that reading a piece of literature will change one's ways, but perhaps it can influence one to stop and think about his/her actions.
Oh, and I loved how an entire section was devoted to why 7th grade is the worst year of school. Might I add that I really love my new job? :p
Target age range: adults
I thought I'd throw in a nonfiction read for those who like to read it. The fact that I prefer fiction is probably why I thought this was not only an informative read, but actually interesting. Robbins does a good job of telling her subjects' stories in narratives that read like fiction (there's dialogue, development, etc.). The book focuses on the school lives of six different people throughout the United States; these people are the "Cafeteria Fringe" or outsiders in their school/social communities. Joy is a new girl from Jamaica, Blue is a gamer, Eli is a nerd, Noah is a band geek, Danielle is a loner, Regan is a lesbian, and Whitney is a self-proclaimed popular bitch. All of these people face hardships in their social lives, even though they have different experiences and different places on the social spectrum. Robbins issues each subject a challenge during the school year that will [hopefully] change their social lives without forcing them to conform or change their own personalities in order to fit into a group.
Honestly, I think that this book should be required reading for any student attending school to be a teacher. It's not uncommon knowledge that middle and high school is hellacious for students who don't fit the social mold--are you rich enough/smart enough/thin enough/hip enough/athletic enough/vapid enough--but this looks into the problems that administrators and teachers have when it comes to allowing such behavior. Not all teachers and principals are guilty of protecting the social hierarchies established by teens, but some do grant favors or look the other way based on who is popular. I'm not naïve enough to think that reading a piece of literature will change one's ways, but perhaps it can influence one to stop and think about his/her actions.
Oh, and I loved how an entire section was devoted to why 7th grade is the worst year of school. Might I add that I really love my new job? :p
Target age range: adults
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Winter Garden
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
According to my Goodreads account, I've read over 60 novels this year. However, I'm rather disappointed in myself as of late because I've put reading aside in favor of technology (er, video games). What is the world coming to when a librarian does that? As my pre-New Year's Resolution, I promise to keep up with my blog as opposed to spending time with anything beginning with the word "Nintendo." If James Patterson can watch and then blog about movies on a regular basis while essentially writing a book a month, I can keep up with this. Besides, I got a Kindle Fire a couple of weeks ago, so (yay) technology can still be a part of my life.
Anyway, back to my current novel. Winter Garden started out a bit slow for me, but halfway through it, I was hooked. A blend of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and fairy tales, this book takes readers on two sisters' journey to find their mother's love. Anya Whitson, mother of Meredith and Nina, has always rejected her daughters' attempts to reach out to her; it has happened so often in their lives, that they have stopped trying. However, after the death of her husband and much prodding from Nina, Anya begins to express herself through a powerful fairy tale she has not told her daughters since they were children.
The fairy tale takes readers to Russia in the 1940s during the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Vera, an optimistic, dreamy girl in a time when dreams were questioned and crushed, is forced to grow up once her father has been taken by the Black Knight. She finds herself in love with a prince, and she takes many risks in order to raise a family with him. Anya tells the story throughout the book, stopping when she can no longer go on. As the story becomes far more detailed and specific than Meredith and Nina have ever heard it, the two begin to wonder if there is more to the tale than just fantasy.
So should you pick it up? Yes. I like to read Hannah's books because they always center around a female protagonist who has some sort of realistic struggle (in many of her novels, it's family-related). I like her books, but it's--how to put this?--easy reading. Maybe a better way to put it is they are 'light' reads. Winter Garden has some very hard parts to read. Hannah has created characters that readers can feel genuine sympathy towards, especially when one considers that it's based on something that really happened. I've also always been a sucker for historical fiction (does anyone remember when I spent the entire summer of 2007 reading novels and biographies about Tudor England and nothing else??), and once the WWII Russia part of the story kicked in, I devoured the book. And, hey, it's winter time. The title says you should read it right now.
Target age range: Adult
According to my Goodreads account, I've read over 60 novels this year. However, I'm rather disappointed in myself as of late because I've put reading aside in favor of technology (er, video games). What is the world coming to when a librarian does that? As my pre-New Year's Resolution, I promise to keep up with my blog as opposed to spending time with anything beginning with the word "Nintendo." If James Patterson can watch and then blog about movies on a regular basis while essentially writing a book a month, I can keep up with this. Besides, I got a Kindle Fire a couple of weeks ago, so (yay) technology can still be a part of my life.
Anyway, back to my current novel. Winter Garden started out a bit slow for me, but halfway through it, I was hooked. A blend of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and fairy tales, this book takes readers on two sisters' journey to find their mother's love. Anya Whitson, mother of Meredith and Nina, has always rejected her daughters' attempts to reach out to her; it has happened so often in their lives, that they have stopped trying. However, after the death of her husband and much prodding from Nina, Anya begins to express herself through a powerful fairy tale she has not told her daughters since they were children.
The fairy tale takes readers to Russia in the 1940s during the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Vera, an optimistic, dreamy girl in a time when dreams were questioned and crushed, is forced to grow up once her father has been taken by the Black Knight. She finds herself in love with a prince, and she takes many risks in order to raise a family with him. Anya tells the story throughout the book, stopping when she can no longer go on. As the story becomes far more detailed and specific than Meredith and Nina have ever heard it, the two begin to wonder if there is more to the tale than just fantasy.
So should you pick it up? Yes. I like to read Hannah's books because they always center around a female protagonist who has some sort of realistic struggle (in many of her novels, it's family-related). I like her books, but it's--how to put this?--easy reading. Maybe a better way to put it is they are 'light' reads. Winter Garden has some very hard parts to read. Hannah has created characters that readers can feel genuine sympathy towards, especially when one considers that it's based on something that really happened. I've also always been a sucker for historical fiction (does anyone remember when I spent the entire summer of 2007 reading novels and biographies about Tudor England and nothing else??), and once the WWII Russia part of the story kicked in, I devoured the book. And, hey, it's winter time. The title says you should read it right now.
Target age range: Adult
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Christmas Wedding
The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson
It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been busy--playing video games. I know, I know, but there are worse vices to have, right? I've also been reading The Cricket in Times Square for Battle of the Books, so I can write practice questions. But I can only read a few pages at a time because I really dislike that book. I didn't like it when I was a kid, and not much has changed since then.
So what have I managed to squeeze in during down time from Nintendo? Since I was already feeling the yuletide cheer, The Christmas Wedding seemed fitting for a post-Thanksgiving read. Although not a typical Patterson thriller, Wedding keeps readers in suspense until the end. Gaby Summerhill, the novel's main character, is a widower who has decided to remarry. But who is the groom? Gaby plans an entire wedding without revealing who her lucky husband will be until after she's walked down the aisle. I've got to say that I was pleased with her choice; it's the person I would have picked based on his personality. And since she described all of them as good looking, personality is all the counts.
During her planning, readers learn about Gaby's family, and the subplots centering around each family develop as the days near Christmas. Gaby's children, Emily, Seth, Lizzie, and Claire are going through trials of their own. One is racing to the top of her law firm to make partner, another has a spouse with cancer, a child is causing an avalanche of trouble at school, and another is a struggling writer trying to sell a book.
Keeping with the tradition of Patterson's short chapters, this book is easy to finish within a short amount of time (hence why I had the time to read it). It's not full of psychotic killers, but still has readers turning pages. I'd recommend it for a fun holiday read.
Target age range: adults
It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been busy--playing video games. I know, I know, but there are worse vices to have, right? I've also been reading The Cricket in Times Square for Battle of the Books, so I can write practice questions. But I can only read a few pages at a time because I really dislike that book. I didn't like it when I was a kid, and not much has changed since then.
So what have I managed to squeeze in during down time from Nintendo? Since I was already feeling the yuletide cheer, The Christmas Wedding seemed fitting for a post-Thanksgiving read. Although not a typical Patterson thriller, Wedding keeps readers in suspense until the end. Gaby Summerhill, the novel's main character, is a widower who has decided to remarry. But who is the groom? Gaby plans an entire wedding without revealing who her lucky husband will be until after she's walked down the aisle. I've got to say that I was pleased with her choice; it's the person I would have picked based on his personality. And since she described all of them as good looking, personality is all the counts.
During her planning, readers learn about Gaby's family, and the subplots centering around each family develop as the days near Christmas. Gaby's children, Emily, Seth, Lizzie, and Claire are going through trials of their own. One is racing to the top of her law firm to make partner, another has a spouse with cancer, a child is causing an avalanche of trouble at school, and another is a struggling writer trying to sell a book.
Keeping with the tradition of Patterson's short chapters, this book is easy to finish within a short amount of time (hence why I had the time to read it). It's not full of psychotic killers, but still has readers turning pages. I'd recommend it for a fun holiday read.
Target age range: adults
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Blue
Blue by Joyce Hostetter
Blue is a WWII story that doesn't spend much time focusing on the war, but life on the home front. Ann Fay's father heads overseas to fight Hitler, leaving her in charge to wear the britches and be the man of the house. At first, things are going well; Ann Fay does a respectable job of balancing work and play. She keeps an eye on her younger brother and twin sisters, while planting a garden and helping her mother in the house.
Upon arriving at church one Sunday morning, the family is turned around with the news that polio has spread across Catawba County. The story really begins here; polio sweeps through Hickory, and Hickory fights back. An emergency hopsital, otherwise known as the Miracle of Hickory, is set up in a matter of days to help those suffering from polio. Ann Fay hears from newspapers and townspeople about the effects of polio, but suddenly it's in her own house. Follow Ann Fay as both she and her family live with the grief brought by polio while her father battles Axis powers in Europe.
This piece of historical fiction is very enjoyable, but could also be used in the classroom. WWII America, North Carolina history, segregation, and the polio outbreak align with Social Studies curriculum. Blue is classroom-friendly when it comes to language and content. A thirteen-year-old protagonist keeps the readers engaged.
Target age range: upper elementary/middle school
Blue is a WWII story that doesn't spend much time focusing on the war, but life on the home front. Ann Fay's father heads overseas to fight Hitler, leaving her in charge to wear the britches and be the man of the house. At first, things are going well; Ann Fay does a respectable job of balancing work and play. She keeps an eye on her younger brother and twin sisters, while planting a garden and helping her mother in the house.
Upon arriving at church one Sunday morning, the family is turned around with the news that polio has spread across Catawba County. The story really begins here; polio sweeps through Hickory, and Hickory fights back. An emergency hopsital, otherwise known as the Miracle of Hickory, is set up in a matter of days to help those suffering from polio. Ann Fay hears from newspapers and townspeople about the effects of polio, but suddenly it's in her own house. Follow Ann Fay as both she and her family live with the grief brought by polio while her father battles Axis powers in Europe.
This piece of historical fiction is very enjoyable, but could also be used in the classroom. WWII America, North Carolina history, segregation, and the polio outbreak align with Social Studies curriculum. Blue is classroom-friendly when it comes to language and content. A thirteen-year-old protagonist keeps the readers engaged.
Target age range: upper elementary/middle school
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