The Answer to All of Life’s Challenges

I couldn’t have said it better myself!  Now that you know how to serenely navigate the bumpy roads and choppy waters that materialize on our journey through life, here are a few books to enjoy along the way.

Benevolence may be a princess (her father is the king of Montagne’s brother, after all), but she doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold.  Royal duties and protocol do not interest her, and she is a bit overweight and not exactly graceful.  But then her parents and uncle are killed, and Ben finds herself the heir to the throne.  Her aunt, the queen, begins a relentless campaign to convert the reluctant teen into a proper royal.  Not only that, but neighboring kingdom Drachensbett is threatening to take over Montagne.  And to top it off, Ben’s aunt locks her in a tower room every night until she changes her attitude!  What’s a girl to do?

Once you have finished the delightful, humorous Princess Ben, you’ll definitely want to read Wisdom’s Kiss.  Since describing this book will give away the conclusion to the first novel, suffice it to say that the companion story is a worthy continuation.  Teens will relish both tales.

“What did you do on your first day–the day you were born?”  With this question, authors Steve Jenkins and Robin Page take readers on a wondrous journey.  We meet a wide variety of creatures–from kiwis to manatees to parent bugs to polar bears–and discover how they function on the first day of their lives.  Told from the point of view of the baby animals, and magnificently illustrated by Jenkins, this marvelous book will be read and listened to again and again.

More than anything else, Hal wants a dog–something his parents will not allow into their elegant home.  On his tenth birthday, the boy’s dream comes true: he is allowed to choose a dog!  However, when Hal wakes up on Monday morning, Fletch is gone, and he learns the reason: his parents only rented the dog!  Distraught, Hal determines to have the terrier for his own, and concocts a plan for making his dream a reality.  Typical of master writer Eva Ibbotson, this story is full of humor and everything that makes a novel great.  A poignant note: the author passed away the day before the proofs arrived.  A wonderful tribute to an incomparable creator of tales for everyone from children to adults.

Fantastic Fantasies

Today I finished reading a novel that I think is so magnificent, I can’t wait until I write a complete review to share it with my readers.

This debut by the talented team of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is a refreshingly clean–no objectionable language or sex–young adult novel that is a fantasy-supernatural-Gothic mix.  Ethan Wate is a 16-year-old living in Gatlin, South Carolina, a town that prides itself on its Southern heritage.  The teen is counting the days until he can leave this backward place.  Then he meets the girl of his (literal) dreams–a 15-year-old named Lena who has been appearing in his nocturnal visions and recently moved in with her recluse uncle.  Why is she so apprehensive about her sixteenth birthday?  As Ethan grows closer to Lena, questions arise: what is really going on here, and what can he do to help her–and protect her from the close-minded community members (and fellow students) who oppose her presence among them?  The excitement doesn’t stop here–there are three more novels in this series and a movie being released this coming winter.  (My favorite character?  The town librarian!)

I’m breaking one of my rules again: talking about a book that I have not yet finished reading!  This novel is that good.

Liesl has been confined to an attic room by her stepmother (for her own protection, she says) since her father passed away.  However, a visit from a ghost named Po (and his pet, Bundle) begins to open the girl’s eyes to reality–and makes her realize there is a very important duty she must perform.  So, with the help of her new friends, Liesl escapes from the attic.  Their adventurous trek brings them into contact with a number of fascinating people, each with their own tale.  How their stories intertwine make this a can’t-put-it-down book kids will enjoy.

Thank You, Jean Craighead George!

I join the literary world in mourning the loss of a giant.  Yet Jean Craighead George, talented author that she was, was so much more than a writer.  She was an advocate for what is good and beautiful about this wonderful planet of ours: its wildlife, its natural beauty, how everything fits together into a harmonious whole.  Every book–every word–that emerged from her magic pen is a testimonial to this.  Whether the setting is Alaska or the Everglades, whether the main character is a rebellious teen or a baby wolf, whether the topic is pet care or the seasons of the year, Mrs. George’s love of our world and its inhabitants shines through.

We’ll miss you, Jean; but every time someone opens one of the treasures you have shared with us, it will seem as if you are here.

More Gems Out of the Box

As I pulled more new arrivals from their shipping containers, a few immediately claimed a spot on my list of WOW books. Here are some that simply will not wait to be read:

I have not even finished this novel, but cannot resist writing about it. Sylvia is a bright 15-year-old who has much going for her: loving if strict parents, good friends…So why would she want to disrupt things by becoming one of the first Black students to integrate the Little Rock, Arkansas, Central High School? The situation for her people is difficult and degrading, but would one girl’s action make a difference, and be worth the sacrifice–and the risk?

J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog.  All he wants to do is enjoy his retirement.  However, a frantic hen shows up at his doghouse one day begging him to find her missing children.  With the promise of a food reward, J.J. begins searching for the chicks; but things and people (or is it animals?) are not always what they seem.  Readers will keep turning the pages of this fast-paced and humorous mystery until the delightful concusion.  As the first in a new series, there are more J.J. adventures to come.  Ages 8-10

When teenager Miriam wakes up in the hospital, her face is in agony–and she cannot remember what happened to put her there.  However, as the days pass, she recalls the event that caused the severe burns.  But the ordeal is only beginning.  How can Miriam face the world with disfiguring scarring at an age when appearance means so much?  An uplifting story of fortunate happenings, faith, and hope.

Eva Ibbotson’s second-to-the-last novel is as magnificent as any in her vast repertoire.  When three individuals with special abilities (and an ordinary boy who insists on accompanying them) receive the task to rescue a princess from an ogre, they reluctantly set out for the distant castle. Upon their arrival, the group discovers that things are definitely not as they have been led to believe. With characteristic Ibbotson humor and charm, this story is a tribute to a master. Nothing more need be said. Perfect for ages 10-12

It’s Completed!

After months of searching, evaluating, picking other librarians’ and educators’ brains, painful eliminating, and setting some aside “for future consideration,” they are complete–or as complete as they ever will be.  My annual book orders are now in the hands of the book vendor.  It only remains to be seen how this intense experience will bear fruit.

(An aside: I discovered what an efficient book vendor it is–within two weeks of sending off my first list, I arrived at work to discover several boxes with my name on them.  The timing could not have been more perfect, as their arrival coincided with the last day of school before vacation.  The second order, mailed on the final day before the break, might be waiting when I return.)

There are some gems that I am particularly excited about reading.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu: a contemporary fantasy that should have kids enthralled.

The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Ravin Lodding: a little girl whose life is overfull of activities would like some time to be a kid–and play.  Another winner from Flashlight Press.

Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein: family members of the beloved poet, who passed away in 1999, put together this collection of his poems and drawings.

Fire from the Rock by Sharon M. Draper: this novel powerfully describes the experiences and feelings of one of the first Black students to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957.

The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson: another delightfully unconventional fairy tale by a master, all the more wonderful since it’s one of Eva Ibbotson’s last.

Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos: the story of our fascination with sugar, and how human craving for the sweet stuff has changed lives and societies from early history to the present day.

Those Rebels, John & Tom by Barbara Kerley: a lively biography of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two men who were very different, but who had some very important things in common: their concern for the American colonies and their belief that they should be independent from England.

A joyous and meaningful Passover to all!

More Books That Should Win Awards

Eleven-year-old Polly loves everything about her family farm: the rhubarb that tastes like chocolate, the lake where nothing bad ever happens, and the fact that it rains every Monday at exactly 1:00 p.m.  But then the weekly showers suddenly stop, and her brother becomes mysteriously ill.  Can Polly, with the help of some unusual friends, act in time to help help her brother and return things to the way they were?  This story is as magical as the delights that abound on the Peabody Farm.

Armie is half Shawnee and half Armenian, but that’s not why he didn’t have friends while he was growing up.  Other kids have always thought of him as a little weird, since he is able to “feel” things most people can’t.  In addition, Armie is a big, hulking boy.  So by the time our hero is a teenager and attending boarding school while his socially-conscious lawyer parents ply their trade, he is a loner.  The mountain setting of the school suits Armie fine: it gives him plenty of opportunities to wander its paths and enjoy the natural world.  But his “gift” tells him there is something out there, it’s not friendly, and it is calling him…

Four children.  Each has their own reasons for entering the candy-making contest.  As the entrants tour the factory where they will create their confections, we learn their secrets–and observe them through the eyes of the other participants.  But when we think we begin to know Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip, events take a turn that makes us realize that there is more to each of these fascinating young people than we imagined.  Wendy Mass has done it again.

Yuki is excited.  Her mother has told her that she is big enough to ride her bike home from Grandma’s house at the end of the day.  But first, there is much to do: feeding the koi in the pond, making origami animals, eating a dinner of Yuki’s favorite soup, watching the sun set over the lake, and listening to the “night music.”  This beautiful story is matched by spectacular illustrations.  It begs to be read aloud again and again.

You can learn about more gems at
http://bookandagarden.com
.

Get ready for March 2!

Award Winners–and Books That Should Be

If anyone has drifted over to
http://bookandagarden.com
  lately, you’ve read my review of Margi Preus’ blockbuster Heart of a Samurai, a 2011 Newbery Honor Book.  I’m not sure why it took me a year to read this book.  All I can say it was definitely worth the wait. (Check out my review and then read the book to find out for yourself.)

However, there are a lot of books out there that do not have a sticker on their covers that, in my humble opinion, are well deserving of one. Some have already appeared on these virtual pages.  Here’s a sample.

Author Laura Amy Schlitz already has a Newbery Award to her credit (deservedly so for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!), but this gem is worthy of a spot on the podium.  The heartwarming, inspiring, can’t-put-it-down story of Flora the night fairy dazzles.  This one has the makings of a classic.

A little boy drifts off to sleep, soothed by all the sounds of the house around him: the “purr, thump, purr, thump” of two cats and a dog, accompanied by the “sleepy song” of the pipes, floors, and faucets.  Joining the indoor night noises are those of the natural world outside.  The dreamy mood is perfect for sleepytime reading.

More Books That Deserve Awards in a future post.  In the meantime, visit
http://bookandagarden.com
for reading treasures old and new.

The End

I finally finished it.  In the midst of all the other books I’ve been reading, last night I turned the last page of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance–the final volume in the series that began with the publication of Eragon in 2003.  After nearly nine years, it almost feels like the end of an era.  One can imagine that it may have seemed so to the young author, who began penning this fantasy series when he was only fifteen years old.

Many things have been said about the Inheritance cycle.  Some have likened it to a mixture of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.  This is not necessarily criticism; many great works contain elements of other great works.  (An aside: I am not one to put movies on my outstanding literature list.  There are only a relative few that I believe hold a candle to the books on which they are based, in the case of those made from literary works.)  Most readers and reviewers have been mesmerized by the descriptive language, the fascinating characters, and Paolini’s extraordinary imagination.  There are, of course, those who were disappointed, their displeasure often stemming from what they believed to be the repetitiveness of the novels’ plots and themes (it’s not the first time such events have occurred in fantasy fiction).

My take on these novels?  From the early pages, I began to like and empathize with young Eragon.  Paolini did an admirable job developing his character and that of his dragon Saphira, as well as those of the other personalities–human, dwarf, elf, dragon, werecat, Urgal, even Ra’zac.  As Eragon and Saphira grow and metamorphose, they remain refreshingly “normal,” with the fears, foibles, desires, and dislikes that are common to us ordinary people.  If some of their experiences have appeared in literature before, this is not a drawback: for the particulars of the plot are unique to these novels, and everything is woven together as the story arrives at its conclusion.  They are a bit wordy, yes; but the descriptive phrases are literary gems, and the action does not falter.

After having bidden farewell to Eragon and all the characters populating the novels, I happened to read part of the beginning of Eragon, and had to smile at the passage introducing the teen and relating the story of his discovery of Saphira’s egg.  If only Eragon knew what was in store…

Oldies But Goodies

In this world of lightning-fast changes–that new laptop you bought last year is already on the road to obsolescence, the good old black-and-white Kindle has been supplanted by Kindle Fire, we are able to Skype friends and loved ones when we can’t be there in person, and what was once “only” a cell phone is now a device for sending and receiving emails, surfing the Web, taking pictures, and reminding you when it’s time to go home and feed your dog.

However, even with these innovations occurring faster than we can say “ipad touch fourth generation,” some things are timeless. Those who know me, or are familiar with my mindset, have probably already guessed that I am talking about books that have stood the test of time. So, without further ado, here are a few treasures from years–and decades–past that are as worth reading today as when they were published.

A little girl awakens one night and sees a deer in her back yard.  Filling her hands with salt, she goes outside and, singing softly, holds them out.  This lyrical, brilliantly illustrated story has enchanted a generation of young readers and listeners.  Its dreamlike quality will charm the most sophisticated kids today.  Ages 3-7

Darek can’t wait until he can go on his first Dragonquest.  However, when he finds a baby dragon inside the pouch of its mother, which was killed by his older brother, Darek is determined to return him to his own kind.  He learns some important truths about dragons, and himself, along the way.  An outstanding series for fantasy fans waiting to be old enough for Harry Potter.  (They might find Darek to be every bit as much a hero!)  Ages 7-10

When a rather clumsy boy named Harry Houdini Marco helps a strange elderly man at a bus stop, he is given a bottle containing a mysterious substance as a reward.  After Harry applies the liquid, to his amazement, he grows wings!  Readers have been taking flight with Harry since this marvelous story first appeared in 1966.  Ages 10-13

Cathy is a typical 14-year-old when her eyesight begins failing, and she is soon left in total darkness.  Undaunted, the teen is determined to carry on with her life–including attending a “regular” high school.  Cathy’s story, which is as mesmerizing as it was when it was published nearly fifty years ago, is continued in Gift of Gold.  Ages 13-16

Check out  http://bookandagarden.com  for more fantastic reading suggestions.

Back to the books...

Favorites

When checking my email, I saw a post from a listserve member asking fellow librarians to recommend their favorite books.  As I mentally went through the titles I would include, it dawned on me that such a list would be very long, indeed.  (It’s not that I like everything I read; far from it.)  Limiting by age group, dates of publication, or other such criteria may shorten the list, but omit some quality books.  So I took a deep breath, chose a few favorites of the favorites, and sent them along.  Before I change my mind, here they are:

After Ben and his parents move across Canada to their new home in Victoria, the thirteen-year-old awaits his mother’s arrival with a new baby.  However, the infant is not a human, but a chimpanzee, and the subject of a study in animal intelligence.  Can Ben treat the little primate like a member of the family–and what will happen when the “experiment” is over?

Ida Mae loves to fly.  But she is Black and a woman, realities which make it almost impossible to follow her dream in 1941 Louisiana.  But then America enters World War II, the Army forms the Women Airforce Service Pilots, and Ida Mae sees her chance to take to the skies: but at the cost of denying her background.

When a caterpillar eats a hole in a leaf that was sheltering a young bird from the rain, her action is the beginning of a marvelous friendship.  Farfallina and Marcel play together daily.  However, one day, the caterpillar is too tired to do anything, and climbs a tree to rest.  Marcel faithfully waits for her to return, but Farfallina does not reappear.  Will the friends see each other again?

When Mom brings home a stray cat, Dad refuses to allow it to stay–until he is convinced that the hapless pussy needs shelter and will be gone the next day.  Needless to say, the kitty becomes a member of the household.  This scene repeats itself again and again, with Dad’s strong, hilariously illustrated, protests each time, and with the same results.  The ending is a delight.

 

The beloved old king is at the end of his life.  But before he will allow the haughty Prince Raphael to wear the crown, his son must find a wife who is his equal in intelligence, beauty, and wealth.  Where will the proud Raphael find a princess who matches him in all these areas?  Magnificent illustrations add charm to a beautiful, timeless story.

Flory is a young night fairy.  She lives a carefree and happy existence until an encounter with a bat severely damages her wings.  Unable to fly and too young to utter a spell to repair them, Flory finds shelter, new friends, and help from an unexpected source.  The plucky heroine will fly right into the hearts of readers of all ages.

Melody is a genius, but only a few people know it.  That’s because she has cerebral palsy, and cannot speak or control most of her body.  Melody’s world begins to open up when her special education class is mainstreamed for part of the school day, and she discovers that there is a computer that can “talk” for her.  However, the fifth-grader’s struggles are only beginning… 

Georgie is a bright, talented fourth-grader.  However, he can’t do a lot of things other people can do, because he is a dwarf.  Georgie’s world becomes more complicated by a number of events.  First, his mother is expecting a new baby–one who will quickly outgrow Georgie.  Second, he’s paired for a school assignment with Jeanie the Meanie, a classmate who lives up to her nickname.  Then, somebody got him chosen to play Abraham Lincoln in a school play.  How can the shortest kid in his class portray someone as tall as Lincoln?