The Indigo King

The Indigo King. James A. Owen. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 375 pages.

The third adventure in the series mainly features Jack and John...Charles being conveniently away when this unexpected challenge/adventure finds them. Hugo Dyson, a friend, is introduced to readers, when he is thrown into the adventure. He may not know where he is or why he's there, but, he is perhaps *safer* than Jack and John...at least temporarily. For after Hugo disappears through the mystery-door-that-appears-out-of-nowhere, and that mystery door is shut by some well-meaning animals from the Archipelago of Dreams, their whole world changes...for the worse. The "real world" is dark and dangerous and ruled by the Winter King. The two aren't without some hope, they discover their good friend, Bert, who has been waiting and waiting for them. And he gives them hope, a time machine of Jules Verne and a mystery box. These friends, these caretakers, will have to journey through time--observing things very carefully--and have to use some wisdom and discretion on what to change and what not to change. Can they "fix" time and save the world? While the second adventure used Peter Pan and Jason and Medea for inspiration, this one uses King Arthur and Odysseus and the Trojan War. It also is the novel that introduces the young woman, Rose, and a young man Hank Morgan.

I really do LOVE this series!!! It is so fun to visit with these characters, and it's always interesting to meet new characters and see where they are going to take the story! This is a very significant book in the series, for it reveals the identity of the cartographer 'stuck' in the Keep of Time AND it reveals the identity of the Winter King.

This is also the book in the series that utilizes time travel most.

Read The Indigo King

• If you're a fan of fantasy, mythology, classic literature
• If you enjoy time travel; the more you LOVE time travel, the more you may appreciate this one!
• If you enjoy mystery and adventure mixed in with your fantasy
• If you've enjoyed the previous books in the series: Here There Be Dragons, The Search for the Red Dragon.

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

The Search for the Red Dragon

The Search for the Red Dragon. James A. Owen. Simon & Schuster. 384 pages.

I am so excited to be rereading this series. I think I will enjoy the new books in the series so much more after I reread these first books again. In this second adventure, Jack, Charles, and John are called to the Archipelago of Dreams by Laura Glue, a little girl with wings who shows up looking for the caretaker. The caretaker she means is an enemy of her grandfather. It is not Jack, Charles or John she is looking for, but a man named Jamie. But her need for help is very great...someone is kidnapping the children from the Archipelago of Dreams. Even the royal prince has been taken. Even some of the 'lost boys' are gone. Can these three caretakers solve a mystery? This one relies not only upon Peter Pan, but Greek mythology as well. Readers also learn that all is not well with time, and that their adventures in the Keep of Time has had an effect on both worlds and an old enemy has returned...

I enjoyed meeting Laura Glue, and her grandfather; I also enjoyed catching up with some of the other characters.

This is a fun series that is easy to recommend.

Read The Search for the Red Dragon

• IF you enjoy fantasy, mythology, classic literature
• If you enjoy fantasy-adventure quests
• If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, Here There Be Dragons
• If you have enjoyed the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Barrie, etc.

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Here There Be Dragons

Here There Be Dragons. James A. Owen. 2006. Simon & Schuster. 326 pages.

I was a little nervous to reread Here There Be Dragons by James A. Owen. I remember just loving it when I read it the first time. Would I still enjoy it? Still find the characters enjoyable? The plot twists clever? I was not disappointed. In this first adventure, readers meet Jack, Charles, and John, the three caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. They meet Bert, a former caretaker as well. Readers are introduced to a few other key characters as well: Tummler, Aven, Bug, Samaranth, the Cartographer, the Winter King, Magwitch, etc. (Just to name a few.) Many stories, tales, and myths are hinted at in this one. But. Mainly this book serves as a fun introduction into a brand new fantasy series. Readers are introduced to the 'real' world (England 1917 or 1918) and the 'imaginary' world of the Archipelago of Dreams, a world where there are dragons and dragon ships, elves, trolls, and talking animals. Readers also learn about the Keep of Time, which is central to the series....

I loved this one! I thought the storytelling was great!

Read Here There Be Dragons

• If you enjoy fantasy and/or mythology
• If you like dragons and other 'imaginary' creatures
• If you have enjoyed the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, etc.
• If you love to read; this series draws richly from literature

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Who Gets the Drumstick?

Who Gets the Drumstick? Helen Beardsley. 1965. Random House. 215 pages.

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this memoir by Helen Beardsley. Growing up, I enjoyed watching the classic film "Yours, Mine, and Ours." What I didn't know until I was an adult was that it was based very, very, very loosely on a book. I have read the book at least twice since then and have just continued to love it more each time. The book is told through Helen's perspective, and it begins with the death of her first husband. It chronicles her family's move, her settling down, her first "introduction" to the man who would become her second husband. As she's enrolling her children in school, she meets a woman with a brother who has just recently lost his wife. He has a very, very large family. As this woman is relating the story to Helen, she feels led to send him a poem that comforted her after the death of her husband. And so the two meet first by correspondence. Not that they stay in touch, but, eventually these two begin to correspond with one another and exchange pictures. After getting to know one another, they decide to start seeing one another, just to enjoy each other's company, just to have someone who understands, never imagining that God is giving them both a second chance at love and a happily ever after. But. God is writing their love story. And these two families will become one very, very big family in their own way and at just the right time. Half the book takes place after their marriage. Their are chapters that capture the every day, little, ordinary moments of family life: preparing meals, family arrangements (bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, chores, etc.), shopping (grocery, clothes, shoes, etc.), holidays and birthdays. Oh, and learning to get along with siblings new and old. The book builds up to the big decision to adopt one another's children.

The book is sweet, tender, genuine, and faith-friendly.

The book is so very different than the movie, in a way. The movie adds a LOT of drama and comedic sketches. And very little of the courtship from the book is related in the movie--not that the movie gets it wrong exactly, but they're going for a different picture or idea. Especially when it comes to Helen meeting his children. Let's just say the movie is about as far away from the book as possible.

I would definitely recommend this one. It's a tender, loving family story.  

Read Who Gets The Drumstick?

• If you enjoy reading biographies and memoirs
• If you have always been curious about large families
• If you enjoy true love stories
• If you have seen Yours, Mine, and Ours and want to know the 'real story' behind the movie

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Board Books

 Fa La La. Leslie Patricelli. 2012. Candlewick. 26 pages.

It's almost Christmas. I LOVE Christmas! We go to pick a tree. This one? This one! We put on the lights. Look at ME! I'm a Christmas tree! We decorate a gingerbread house. BOOM!

I really LOVE all of Leslie Patricelli's board books. Fa La La is no exception. If you've enjoyed other titles starring this little baby--books like Yummy Yucky, Tubby, Potty, No No Yes Yes, Baby Happy Baby Sad, Higher Higher, or Faster Faster--you should definitely read this one! It is almost Christmas, and this family is preparing for the big day: picking out a tree, decorating the tree, making cookies, making and wrapping presents, visiting Santa, and going caroling. It's a fun little book.

Huggy Kissy. Leslie Patricelli. 2012. Candlewick. 26 pages.

Tuggy, tuggy. 
Huggy, huggy?
Squeeze, squeeze.
Don't stop please!
Mommy kisses all my toesies.
Daddy kisses on my tummy.
They both want to eat me up.
I'm so yummy, yummy!

I really do love Leslie Patricelli. I love this little baby!!! I do. In this adventure, he wants a lot of affection and attention. It starts with a tug on Daddy's pant legs and a baby's uplifted arms...and it just gets better from there. Who does this little one want to hug and kiss? Mom and Dad, obviously, but also a friend, the cat, the dog, the fish in his bowl, Grandma and Grandpa, aunt and uncle,  etc. It's another fun book.

Mine. Shutta Crum. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2011. Random House. 32 pages.

I have a difficult time reviewing wordless picture books. This one isn't technically wordless, it does feature two words: mine and woof. But. All of the story is communicated through the illustrations alone. The illustrations let readers know the tone for the word 'mine.' (And there are plenty of pages that are wordless.) In this book, a toddler and a baby are given an opportunity to play together. Readers see the mothers place the two together in a room full of toys. There's also a puppy...and a water bowl. The illustrations are so expressive making it easy to follow the story. I definitely liked this one.

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Steven Robert's Short Stories

Christmas on Deery Street. Steven Roberts. 2006. 100 pages.

I enjoyed rereading Christmas on Deery Street & Other Seasonal Stories. It is a holiday short story collection featuring a handful of stories including, "Christmas on Deery Street," "Nanny's Locket," "Magic Socks," "The Angel of Union Station," "Our Star," and "You've Done Enough." I first read this collection in 2007. The story that has stayed with me for years is "The Angel of Union Station." I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that story! But it isn't the only 'good' story in the collection. I also enjoyed several other stories. The stories feature very real, very human characters. I'd definitely recommend this collection...even to readers who don't typically like short stories. If characters matter to you, then this one may be just right for you.

While Shepherds Watched: Stories of Christmas Miracles and Mysteries by Steven Roberts. 2007. 165 pages.

This one features the stories: "Gabriel's Trumpet," "Peace in the Valley," "Miracle in the Clearing," "The Madam and the Paperboy," "Transforming Christmas," and "Full Circle." "Gabriel's Trumpet" is the story that stayed with me the most. It just features some very memorable characters and scenes!!! I also found "The Madam and the Paperboy" and "Transforming Christmas" to be quite lovely. I love the emotional depth of these stories.

Read Christmas on Deery Street and/or While Shepherds Watched

• If you enjoy short stories
• If you don't usually read short stories, but, you've always wanted to like reading short stories
• If you enjoy holiday-themed stories
• If you like character-driven stories
• If you like feel-good fiction 

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Every Day

Every Day. David Levithan. 2012. Random House. 336 pages.

  Every Day is one of those books that I can (only) appreciate from a distance. I can see why it might make many people's best lists for the year. It's definitely unique and for the most part well written. The premise is strangely fascinating and potentially disturbing. "A," our narrator has spent each day of his/her life waking up in a different body. Sometimes male, sometimes female, etc. A's ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, weight, height, etc, being something newly discovered each morning. A almost always has something to say about the body, the life, the lifestyle, the choices that person is making or has made. It would be easy to say that A is all about tolerance, and that A's experiences make tolerance a must. A has "walked" in many shoes, after all, which gives A a feeling of being very wise, very above it all. But. I found A to be quite judgmental at times. I found A's assessments of individuals--or hosts--to be limited at best and unfair at worst. A doesn't choose to "access" host memories unless necessary, unless he chooses to make a connection of sorts. And A is all about judging things superficially and by appearances. A wakes up in a messy room, A concludes this, that and the other...for example. If a host likes this kind of music, then he/she must be this kind of person... A does this without thinking about it perhaps. He concludes--usually within a few minutes--a person's worth, if that person is "good" or "bad", nice or mean, popular or nerdy, or even happy or depressed. A dismisses some of the host bodies very quickly, making all sorts of judgments about them. A definitely has ideas of who is a loser and who isn't.

Most of the book is focused on A's quest to have a real relationship with an unforgettable girl despite A's physical limitations (not being in the same body day after day after day). And as an impossible relationship that is supposed to be true, true love, it works for some.

But I didn't exactly like the way A treated/judged some of the host-bodies.

Read Every Day

• If you are a fan of David Levithan and/or John Green
• If you are looking for a very unique book; A isn't your typical narrator!
• If you enjoy young adult literature

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Revisiting Legend of the Wandering King

The Legend of the Wandering King. Laura Gallego Garcia. 2005. Scholastic. 224 pages.

When I first read this book in 2005, I thought it was one of the BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it absolutely. I thought it was a wonderfully, magically compelling read. I had no expectations for it, not my usual genre, an unfamiliar-to-me author, and I was just wowed. So I decided to reread it this week, and it was LOVELY. It was easy for me to see just why I loved it then and now. It is just an absorbing historical fantasy with an exotic atmospheric (almost fairy tale) feel to it. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, the storytelling. I loved the themes of this one: justice and mercy, redemption, destiny and free will. It's a novel that celebrates life, in a way, that even celebrates living rightly. I even see it as a coming-of-age or turning-around story.


My first review:

As a young man, Walid (Wah-leed) ibn Hujr dreamed of being a great man, a great ruler, and a great poet. He wanted to be loved, admired, appreciated, and respected. And since he was born a prince, son of King Hujr ruler of Kinda (in Arabia), he thought his dreams would be easily attained—especially since many thought he’d been touched by a djinn at birth. (Djinn being a genie). However, Walid failed to consider what fate had in mind.

A gifted and beloved prince, Walid was certain that he was the best poet in Kinda. Wanting to earn his father’s approval to go to Ukaz to enter a poetry contest, he organizes a smaller poetry contest for the kingdom of Kinda—arrogance and vanity assuring him that his winning is a matter of certainty.

However, when a peasant man—a carpet weaver—Hammad ibn al-Haddad, wins the contest three years in a row, the once magnanimous prince becomes embittered and resolves to make the peasant pay for his superiority. He forces the peasant to leave his home, his wife, and his three sons (a merchant, a shepherd, and his youngest son who has not chosen a career yet) to become the kingdom’s archivist and historian. He is told he must read and organize the kingdom’s archives (library). The task is monumental and overwhelming. He begs for mercy, but none is given. Walid does grant him this, however, if he can organize the archives and weave him a carpet, then he can be free to return to his home.

After four years, a thinner and wearier man presents himself to the King—Walid’s father having died in the subsequent years. Walid is surprised, yet wanting to remain a man of his word, he adds a stipulation to his earlier request: he must weave a carpet “that will contain the entire history of the human race” (62). Hammad is subsequently driven mad on his quest to create such a carpet, but in his madness finds unusual peace. Even Walid notices the change in him and becomes scared of him noting that there was something not quite human about him now. Once when Walid visited him in his workshop, Hammad tells him mysteriously, “Know that you are a mere mortal who has unleashed powers more terrible than a mighty storm, and that as a mortal, you cannot stop their wrath. Not anymore. It is far too late” (73).

After considering these seemingly prophetic words, Walid decides to release the man from his “curse” and allow him to go home. He opens the door to discover him dead, collapsed on the floor, and the completed carpet. One look at the carpet and Walid becomes convinced that the old man spoke the truth; in shame and fear, he locks the carpet into his secret room. But his life (and destiny) is forever changed. His kingdom begins to fall apart. His soldiers, his servants, his household begins to distrust him. Betrayal seems inevitable.

In the middle of the night, a former friend and advisor slip into the palace with two companions their goal to steal the king’s treasure. Instead of silver or gold, they find a carpet. The king is awakened by a nightmare about the carpet—and so being a paranoid man—he decides to make sure the carpet is still locked away. He discovers that his dream is all too true, just in time to receive a club on the head. As soon as he awakes, however, he dashes off to the stables for a horse so he can pursue the thieves; he’s still dressed in his nightgown!

Since his plan was foolhardy—to begin a dash across the desert without any provisions—it’s no surprise when he collapses in the sand certain that his death is hours away. He is saved by a stranger, an outlaw. But this close-call with death won’t be his last.

THE LEGEND OF THE WANDERING KING is an adventure quest with unexpected twists and turns. As Walid sets out on his journey to recover the carpet and restore past wrongs, what he discovers is that it is never too late to change one’s self. It is an adventurous quest to restore and redeem his own life.

Set in Arabia in 6th century C.E., THE LEGEND OF THE WANDERING KING is an exciting adventure story with probing questions. Is there such a thing as fate? Can a man ever truly make amends for his past mistakes? Is a man defined by his mistakes? Can a person really change his character?

First published in Spain in 2002, THE LEGEND OF THE WANDERING KING has been translated into English by Dan Bellm. It is rich in pre-Islamic Arabic culture. An author’s note explains the time and culture which is depicted in the book. (Yes, the book is based loosely on a pre-Islamic legendary poet, Imru’l Qays.) 



© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Revisiting Catching Fire and Mockingjay

I decided to reread The Hunger Games so I could watch the movie, after reading the first book in the series, I just had to finish the whole trilogy. It was my first time to reread any of the books in the series. Some things I remembered--the Quarter Quell twist--other things not as well (the fate of some of the characters). 

Catching Fire. Suzanne Collins. 2009. Scholastic. 400 pages.

I may love Catching Fire even more than The Hunger Games. Perhaps just because I already care about Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch, Cinna, etc. Or perhaps just because it introduces Finnick!!! This is a book that definitely surprised me the first time I read it, and it was great to finally get the chance to reread it after a few years. I think it was even more enjoyable. The Quarter Quell (75) Hunger Games definitely are intense, and very very very different from the Games from the first book. I also REALLY appreciated the brief glimpse of the other games, particularly the hunger games that Haymitch won. I wouldn't mind learning even more about him and about other victors and their games. 

Mockingjay. Suzanne Collins. 2010. Scholastic. 400 pages.   

Mockingjay is so different from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. In a way, this is a book all about consequences and sacrifices. And as you might expect, rebellion, violence, and death. All three books are that life-or-death dramatic, this one is no exception. In some ways this one is even more intense because of who is involved and what is at stake. But. It is not a fun read. There's hardly a scene to be enjoyed--it's a matter of enduring so you can know what happens next...

I am glad I reread the series. I think watching the movie helped me get back to the books.

Read The Hunger Games trilogy:

• If you like twist-and-turns in action-packed dystopias
• If you enjoy dystopias with or without love triangles 
• If you like intense action and don't mind violence

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Almost Home (MG)

Almost Home. Joan Bauer. 2012. Penguin. 240 pages.

 Even though this one has a dog on the cover, I knew I had to read it because it is Joan Bauer. I trust Bauer. I do. I trust her books to be good...if not great. Almost Home did not disappoint. It was a compelling read, an emotional one. For the heroine, Sugar Mae Cole, goes through some tough things. She's such a wonderful, lovable heroine. I loved the fact that writing was one of the ways she coped, loved to see her writing and sharing poetry, loved the fact that she was able to stay connected with her sixth grade teacher, Mr. Bennett, during her struggles. Since her grandfather died (loved reading her memories of him), things have not been easy for Sugar and her mom, they've been struggling with their finances for most of the year, and finally the worst happens: they lose their home. Readers don't often get to see glimpses of homeless life, of life in and out of shelters, though sometimes readers get a glimpse of life for kids in foster homes, but we get to see a bit of both in this one. (For after one last big disappointment, Sugar does end up in foster care.)

I thought the writing was amazing. I just loved it. And I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the characterization. This one is RICH in minor characters which is always a bonus. I would definitely recommend this one....even if you don't trust dog books.

Read Almost Home

• If you enjoy children's books
• If you enjoy coming of age stories
• If you're looking for heroines who write creatively 
• If you like dog books, if you don't like dog books
• If you're looking for books about foster care 
• If you're looking for books about friendship and making your own family

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

The Second Life of Abigail Walker (MG)

The Second Life of Abigail Walker. Frances O'Roark Dowell. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 240 pages.

I really liked Frances O'Roark Dowell's newest book, the Second Life of Abigail Walker. It didn't wow me as much as Kristin Levine's The Lions of Little Rock OR Rebecca Stead's Liar & Spy, but, it was a gentle, satisfying exploration of first friendship. The heroine, Abigail Walker, does not have many friends, and what "friends" she did have once her true best friend moved away the year before, she's since lost because she was brave enough to stand up for herself. (Her new "friends" liked to pick on her every day, boss her around, call her names, criticize her, etc.) When she didn't say, "yes, you're right, throwing up would be a great way for me to lose weight," well she became "dead" to them and they started making her life miserable. But this is a hopeful story in many, many ways, a quirky story too. (Every other chapter was narrated by a fox.) For Abigail does find her way, she does make new friends, she is able to bring hope and joy to others just by her being herself. The message was a good one. And I did like many things about this one. I liked the friendship theme. I didn't enjoy the focus on Abby's weight as much, though I suppose it felt authentic enough in showing her daily struggles. But it was sad too. The pressure others put on her in addition to the messages she told herself, it all felt sad to me. I could see *why* she was turning to food. It isn't a book with an easy answer at the end, which was good, I suppose.

Personally, I think I would have loved this one a little bit more without the fox fantasy-elements. But I think it is still a good read.

Read The Second Life of Abigail Walker

• If you are a fan of Frances O'Roark Dowell
• If you like MG fiction, coming of age stories
• If you like stories about the healing powers of friendship

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

City

City. Clifford D. Simak. Old Earth Books. 264 pages. 

I didn't exactly love or hate Clifford D. Simak's City. This is a collection of eight stories (plus an epilogue); the stories are linked together as the accumulated mythology of dogs. Each story is introduced and "explained" from the scholarly dog perspective. Man never really existed, there's no proof man ever existed, there certainly isn't any reason to think that men ever had anything to do with dogs, or helped in the "creation" of dogs or robots, etc. But men continued to play a role--sometimes a large role, sometimes a small role, in the cozy campfire tales/stories of dogs. The early stories focus on man's diminishing role on Earth, and the abandoning of cities for the countryside. Men no longer feel the need to work together to form a society, each man or each family prefers to be on their own, to rely on themselves. Government becoming absurd after the concept of cities has fallen apart. Most of the stories do feature talking dogs and robots and a few "mutant" men and "wild" robots. (I'm not sure exactly what made the mutant men mutant and the wild robots wild except both seem to have more freedom and less inclination to follow strict rules and structures.) The stories are: City (1944), Huddling Place (1944), Census (1944), Desertion (1944), Paradise (1946), Hobbies (1946), Aesop (1947), The Simple Way (1951), Epilog (1973). The stories do span ten thousand years or so, plenty of time for people and animals and society to change again and again. Elements of City strongly reminded me of The Long Earth; for example, the concept of there being many, many, many earths that one could learn to travel between, each one being a variant of sorts of the original but also unique.

Short stories can be difficult for me, at times, because I generally prefer longer fiction where I get a better chance to know the characters and a better chance to connect with the story and plot. I often felt disconnected from these stories. I remained slightly interested, for the most part, never really wanted to stop reading the book.

Read City

• If you want to read a science fiction classic
• If you enjoy vintage science fiction
• If you enjoy short stories 
• If you like dogs OR robots

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Five 2012 Picture Books

The Chicken Problem. Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson. 2012. Random House. 32 pages.

This is Peg. She loves solving problems. She also loves pie. This is Cat. He loves helping Peg solve problems. He loves pie too. One day, Peg and Cat were on a farm, getting all ready to have a perfect picnic with a pig. The sun was shining. The chickens were cheeping. The pie was fresh and juicy and gooey. And everybody had a piece of pie that was just the right size for them. So they were ready to start their perfect picnic with a pig, right?

 I really enjoyed The Chicken Problem. I enjoyed Peg and Cat. Peg, at times, could be dramatic. Like when she gets so distraught because there's a tiny piece of pie with no one to eat it. NO BODY! But Cat is always there to help Peg think things out. And he's got a solution. Who better to eat a tiny piece of pie than one tiny chick?! Unfortunately, Cat didn't properly close the chicken coop, and now there are a HUNDRED CHICKS on the loose giving Peg plenty of reasons to panic. I loved the liveliness of the story.

There were one hundred chickens going crazy all over the place! Chickens leaping! Chickens skipping! Chickens hopping! Chickens doing somersaults! Chickens standing on their heads! Chickens standing on each other's heads! Chickens doing the chicken dance! Chickens bending over and wiggling their bottoms in the air! There were chickens chickens chickens chickens chickens everywhere!

I think the text offers readers plenty of opportunity to read (aloud) expressively, to really get into the story! How can Peg and her friends get all these chickens back in the coop? Will they ever get to eat their pie?

Bedtime is Canceled. Cece Meng. Illustrated by Aurelie Neyret. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages.

The note read, "Bedtime is canceled." Maggie thought of it. Her brother wrote it. Their parents read it. They didn't believe it. So into the trash it went...until the wind got a hold of it. Up it flew, out the window, loop-de-loop, across town...until finally it landed on the desk of a newspaper reporter, right on the pile of finished work. The newspaper printed it in big, bold black letters...

Once the local newspaper and news broadcast reports that BEDTIME IS CANCELED it isn't long before everyone starts believing it to be fact. Word continues to spread through e-mail. EVERYONE believes that bedtime is a thing of the past, now Maggie and her brother know better. But, why would they want to stop such wonderful news?! This is the best thing ever, right? Who wouldn't be thrilled not to have to go to bed? Well, the adults aren't happy... but why should upset adults bother them?

Bedtime is Canceled has a playful premise, but, it didn't quite work for me.

The Other Side of Town. Jon Agee. Scholastic. 2012. 32 pages.

I was having a lousy day--few fares, bad tips, a flat tire--when this guy in a funny hat waved me down. "Take me to Schmeeker Street," he said. "You mean Bleecker Street, downtown?" "No, Schmeeker Street, on the other side of town." He told me how to get there, past the bus depot and the city dump, till we came to a dead end. "Here we are," I said. "This must be the other side of town." "Not yet," he said, and he whipped out a remote control and pressed a button.

What a strange little picture book! Jon Agee's The Other Side of Town is a playful, imaginative story told from the perspective of a cab driver who has picked up a strange little man. The cab driver learns that "the other side of town" is quite different. It is like he's awakened in a strange, new world. Fortunately, the man left his remote control behind or he might never have got back to his own side of town...but just because he's gone home doesn't mean that he leaves the experience unchanged...

In some ways, this book reminded me of Jan Slepian's The Hungry Thing.

Rabbityness. Jo Empson. 2012. Child's Play. 32 pages.

Rabbit liked doing rabbity things. Rabbit liked hopping. Rabbit liked jumping. Rabbit liked twirling his whiskers. Rabbit liked washing his ears. Rabbit liked burrowing, and Rabbit liked sleeping. Rabbit also liked doing unrabbity things. He liked painting...and making music.This made Rabbit VERY happy! It made him SO happy, all the other rabbits caught his happiness. He filled the woods with color and music. 

 Rabbityness is not your typical picture book. It is about grief and loss. Readers aren't exactly told the specifics of why Rabbit has gone away or disappeared, but, we are told that his going away has left a "deep, dark hole" that left the rabbits deeply saddened. The collective loss to the woods is FELT. But underneath the layers of grief, buried deep within that loss is a legacy...a legacy left to each and every rabbit that ever knew and loved Rabbit. And that gift is art and music. And using this legacy, they can choose to color the woods with their own artistic endeavors.

The Red Boat. Hannah Cumming. 2012. Child's Play. 32 pages.

Perhaps you'll enjoy The Red Boat more than I did. The Red Boat is a picture book about a little girl, Posy, who has just  moved to a new house and neighborhood. She's ANXIOUS about everything, especially starting school. Her only comfort seems to be a dog named George. In Posy's yard is a red boat. At night, Posy and George sneak out of the house to get into this red boat. Once in this red boat, the boat travels here, there, everywhere. Posy gets extra-opportunities at night time to learn how to make friends with others (polar bears, aliens, etc.). She takes these new skills and starts applying them during the day. The book concludes with a big, big party with all her new friends. Some of these friends--the neighbors, her classmates--are from the real world, but the other friends are from her fanciful travelings in the red boat. If the ending had been different, if the red boat hadn't been taken so seriously--taken as fact--then I might not have disliked this one.


© 2012 Book of Just News To You

The Lions of Little Rock (MG)

The Lions of Little Rock. Kristin Levine. 2012. Penguin. 304 pages.

I talk a lot. Just not out loud where anyone can hear. At least I used to be that way. I'm no chatterbox now, but if you stop me on the street and ask me directions to the zoo, I'll answer you. Probably. If you're nice, I might even tell you a couple of different ways to get there. 

I loved, loved, loved Kristin Levine's The Lions of Little Rock. Since I had also LOVED The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, I knew to expect great things from her, and I was not disappointed. I'm not sure which of the two is my favorite, favorite. I loved both books so much. All I can say is that I definitely want to reread them both!

I LOVED both Marlee and Liz. Marlee is a heroine that I found so easy to love. She's so shy, so wonderfully smart but painfully shy. So shy that her family--who loves and supports her--challenges her (in a good way) to speak five or six words a day. In the beginning, she's so reliant on her older sister, but through the novel, she becomes more confident and brave. But above all, she becomes more thoughtful. She takes time to think and consider, for the most part, what is right, what is true, over and above what is easy and what is comfortable.

Liz is a new girl who becomes Marlee's very first true best friend, but their friendship will soon be tested in Little Rock, Arkansas in the school year of 1958/1959...

I do enjoy historical fiction. I found the setting of this one to be so very fascinating. It is set one year after the Little Rock Nine, and readers learn about the year that public high schools were officially closed in order to avoid integration. It is simply a fascinating, compelling novel. I just couldn't put it down.

I did love the characters, and not just the main character(s). Readers get a chance to get to know all the people in Marlee's life, her mother and father, her older sister and brother, a few teachers, even a Sunday School teacher, I believe, the family's new maid, her classmates, her friends, those that bully her, etc. So many glimpses of people that felt so genuine.

I also LOVED the writing. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it from start to finish. So lovely, it just has a "just right" feel to it.

Read The Lions of Little Rock

• If you love GREAT children's books, if you want to read one of the best books of the year
• If you love coming of age stories 
• If you like strong friendship stories
• If you enjoy historical fiction, this one is set in Little Rock, Arkansas, late 1950s
• If you like novels with complex characters
• If you are looking for a heroine who LOVES math  

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

The Kingmaker's Daughter

The Kingmaker's Daughter. Philippa Gregory. 2012. 423 pages. 

I have enjoyed Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series so far. The Kingmaker's Daughter would probably be my favorite--at least so far. It is the story of Anne Neville, the daughter of Warwick, the "kingmaker", and wife of Richard III. The book chronicles her from childhood until her death--beginning with the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Her father always had a plot or scheme, always had a plan and a backup plan. So in a way, the book is very political and gives a behind the scenes look at corruption, power, and manipulation. But it is also a personal story. Readers see Anne as a daughter, sister, wife, widow, and mother. In various roles, readers are able to perhaps catch a glimpse of what it might have been like to live during these turbulent times.

I loved the focus on relationships. I loved the complexity of those relationships. It must have been hard to live with the decisions and consequences of such an ambitious father, never knowing from one week to the next whose side you're supposed to be on and if your father is scheming to make YOU queen or if he's scheming to make your sister queen. Wanting to support him and be a good daughter, yet, at the same time never understanding him fully.

There are so many intense scenes in this one. One of the toughest scenes is when Anne is trying to help her sister during her labor at sea. WOW. And that's just one of the emotional scenes of the novel. It's a compelling novel, a sad novel since Anne's story is a tragic one, but it's a fascinating story too.

I would definitely recommend this one. I just LOVED it. The novel is not perfect, perhaps, I wish Richard had been portrayed a little differently. Though I was VERY RELIEVED that Richard's portrayal was so complex, seeking to see his strengths and weaknesses. He was not portrayed as a horrible, evil, despicable person. And he definitely wasn't portrayed as a saint.

Read The Kingmaker's Daughter

• If you love historical fiction
• If you love historical fiction set in the fifteenth century
• If you want to read more about the War of Roses, or The Cousins' War
• If you are a fan of Philippa Gregory

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Lord of Chaos

Lord of Chaos. (Wheel of Time #6) Robert Jordan. 1994. Tor. 720 pages.

I struggled my way through Lord of Chaos. I didn't find it as easy to love as some of the earlier books in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Because I was so enthusiastic at the start of the series, it was disappointing to "just" like a book instead of love it.

Lord of Chaos does have almost all of the characters I've come to like, love, enjoy. (Of course, in this good vs. evil battle there are plenty of not-so-good characters.) Rand isn't having an easy time being the Dragon Reborn. Sure, some people love him or the idea of him. Some might arguably be a little too enthusiastic for the cause. But others hate him and will stop at nothing to bring him down. But rather it's love or hate, there are plenty who just don't know him at all. They see him as a symbol, an idea, not a human being. Being around Rand brings danger to his friends... But this is never just Rand's story. There are a dozen or so "main" stories in this series. And hundreds of characters--at least--to follow through the narration. Some characters seem to have chapters and chapters dedicated to them, and others just a couple. Unfortunately, the proportion this time around didn't match my interest level. That is also how I felt about much of Lord of the Rings. There were characters that I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED so very much and whose stories I found so compelling and wonderful. And then there were other sections where I just kept reading so I could get to the good parts I knew were coming.

Read Lord of Chaos

• If you're a fan of fantasy series, long fantasy series
• If you enjoy epic battles between good and evil 

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

No Crystal Stair

No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. 2012. Lerner. 188 pages. 

There were a few times when No Crystal Stair amazed me, and definitely there were times I found it interesting or fascinating. But. I didn't love this one enough to gush about it. It is a uniquely told story told in fragments, fragments which make for quick reading, for the most part. But also the fragments kept me separated, in a way, from the main character(s). It was a respectful distance. Readers meet an inspirational man with a big dream and determination to match it. A man convinced that books could make a difference, that is READING books could make a difference, that knowledge improves lives. The book chronicles his early life and comes to focus on his great success as a one-of-a-kind bookseller, owning a bookstore focusing exclusively on books written by African Americans or about African Americans. For those interested in race relations in the twentieth century--especially in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s--this one could easily be considered a must read.  

Read No Crystal Stair

• If you are looking for a fictional novel based on true people and events
• If you are looking for an unusual, often brilliant, portrait of a man and the times in which he lived
• If you are looking to learn more about the Harlem Renaissance OR the Civil Rights movement

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Jump Into the Sky (MG)

Jump Into the Sky. Shelley Pearsall. 2012. Random House. 352 pages.

It's been years since I've read a Shelley Pearsall novel, but I remember really loving those that I've read in the past. I really liked Jump Into the Sky. I'm not sure that I absolutely loved it. But it was a really good read. I just LOVED the main character, Levi Battle. I really loved his narrative voice, and I enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes. I enjoyed many of the characters, I especially liked Cal, Peaches, and baby Victory. (I loved hearing their love story!) I was so happy that this couple was able to open their hearts and home to Levi when he really needed someone--anyone--to care. And I was pleased that Levi had the opportunity--at last--to get to know his father.

The book was set during the last months of World War II, and it was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about this historical period. I didn't know about the balloon bombs OR the African American paratroopers. So that was good. This isn't exactly a fast-paced action novel, more of a slow character-focused coming of age story. I enjoy coming-of-age stories AND I enjoy historical fiction.

I enjoyed the characters, the writing, the details great and small. 

Read Jump Into the Sky

• If you enjoy well-written, character-focused coming of age stories set during World War II
• If you are looking for a multicultural World War II read that discusses prejudice in and out of the military
• If you enjoy historical fiction with memorable narrators

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

Caught (MG)

Caught. (Missing #5) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 352 pages.

  I have enjoyed Margaret Peterson Haddix's time-travel series for middle grade. Some of the books I've liked better than others, but, for the most part, I've enjoyed each one. In this fifth adventure, Jonah and Katherine face their biggest challenge so far. The book begins with the freezing of time. Jonah and Katherine are in school when time freezes. They know that something must have happened, but when and where?! They seek out others who have traveled in time--the only people unaffected so it seems by frozen time--but before they get the chance to do anything, Jonah and Katherine find themselves falling through time and landing in 1903. They have a few clues, they know Albert Einstein and his wife are somehow connected to their being there. But for the most part, these two are clueless and choosing to be invisible for as long as possible...but Albert Einstein's wife is clever and knows something is up....

Caught is a fast-paced read. I don't enjoy this series because the characters are well-developed and fascinating. I enjoy this series because of the story, the action, the history. I enjoy learning about different periods of history. I enjoy the author's notes at the end of each book. I like learning what is truth and what is fiction. I enjoy the time travel aspect of the story and the mystery behind it.

Read Caught

• If you've enjoyed the other titles in the Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• If you enjoy middle grade science fiction with a time travel element
• If you enjoy children's books with action and mystery

© 2012 Book of Just News To You

The Sweetest Spell (YA)

The Sweetest Spell. Suzanne Selfors. 2012. Walker & Company. 416 pages.

I was in the perfect mood for Suzanne Selfors' The Sweetest Spell. I loved the heroine, Emmeline Thistle. I enjoyed reading about her community, especially the husband market where the young women bid on the single men of the community. Since she was born with a deformed foot, and since the whole community distrusts her, she's not one of the young women joining in, at least not yet--she's just sixteen or seventeen. But the novel opens with a big disruption: soldiers arriving on that day to take away the men to fight the king's war. Days later, major flooding proves even more devastating to the community. Emmeline Thistle finds herself truly alone with nowhere to go, but as long as there are cows nearby, Emmeline will never be friendless.

I enjoyed this one so very much! I loved Emmeline. I loved Owen Oak, the love interest, who discovers her after the flood. I enjoyed so many characters--major and minor. And I really loved spending time in the world Selfor's created. I loved the storytelling, the adventure, the romance, the characters, the writing.

Read The Sweetest Spell

• If you enjoy fantasy with a historical feel
• If you enjoy fantasy with some romance
• If you are looking for some charm in your fantasy (I found it very delightful!)
• If you like reading about chocolate

© 2012 Book of Just News To You