Wednesday, July 23, 2008

On... The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

I really liked this book. I kept expecting characters from Artemis Fowl to pop out any minute. In my opinion that's a good aspect.

I fell in love with the characters although all through the book I could not figure out what the "aunt's" motive in the whole thing was. I kept expecting her to turn out to be something that she wasn't.

In the end all of the characters learned that what they were originally looking for was not what they actually wanted or what they ended up getting. I loved the lessons that Scipio, Prosper, and Victor all learned. Another minor character whose name escapes me right now got what he deserved in a laughable sort of way.

I definitely enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

On... Night Hoops by Carl Deuker

I have to admit that the cover art turned me off slightly to the book. I know better, though, than to judge a book by the cover. Some books that I know are not worth my time to read have such great covers that I want to read despite knowing what's inside. That is beside the point though.

I really liked this book. I have always loved sports even though the only sport that I played fairly decently was softball. This book tells the story of Nick Abbott, an aspiring basketball player with many different things pulling him in various directions: his parents' divorce, his father's desire to see him become an exceptional basketball player after giving up on Scott... Nick's older brother, a neighbor he wanted nothing to do with and various other things.

Nick, a fairly talented player, does not achieve immediate success. Instead he has to go back to the beginning and learn things the hard way. He had to learn teamwork and various other positive lessons. Although life doesn't always end up with championships Deuker creates a fairly realistic story that doesn't gloss over the ugly side of life.

I definitely recommend this book.

On... A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary is such an entertaining author. This book has her telling the story of her life from as early as she could remember until she heads off to college.

Cleary tells things that at first glance might seem depressing but in such a way that made me laugh. She tells stories that illustrate just how active her imagination was and why she eventually became such a beloved children's author. In a way she also illustrated why she created such an obstinate character as Ramona.

Very good memoir. I definitely recommend the book.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

On... A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Wow!

I added this book to my list after either watching or reading some very good reviews about the book. Other than knowing that the book was good I had no idea of the story contained within the covers.

The best comparison I can make style-wise is to To Kill a Mockingbird. Now Francie does not go through anything as significant as the trial highlighted in To Kill a Mockingbird but that is the best comparison I can make.

I absolutely fell in love with Francie Nolan. I felt the hidden pain of poverty though Francie when she was young thought that some of the things were the best in the world. I wanted to fix Katherine Nolan's world, working as hard as she possibly could to support her two children and her good intentioned drunkard husband.

I absolutely loved this book. I would read it over and over again. I definitely recommend it.

On... King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschield

I added this book to my want to read list after taking a course on African history during my last semester of college. I have always had a fascination with history and developed an increased fascination about African history after taking this class and learning just how little I actually knew about Africa.

Hochschield deftly weaves together a story about a harsh but very real story. The title is somewhat misleading though. I thought that Hochschield would be telling the story of the Congo after the passing of the infamous King Leopold. In fact, Hochschield did not tell of Leopold's death until the last third of the book, close to the end.

This story is not for the faint of heart but it is an excellent tale of caution. I could see modern day applications or I should say ramifications as I read.

I definitely recommend the book.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

On... the Beyond the Western Sea Series by Avi

I have to say that I was rather disappointed with the series. I guess it comes from reading a ton of other books written in the same era and written poorly.

While these books were not written poorly neither did they sparkle and entertain. I almost know the end outcome of the books before I read more than a few chapters.

Avi also dragged the plot of the books down with too many extraneous characters and subplot lines. For a children's book I had trouble keeping track of who was good and on the side of the main characters and who wasn't.

The book is decent and would most likely give a child a sense of accomplishment for reading a 415 page book (the second in the series). I probably would not recommend it or assign the books for students.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

On... Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

Wow. I absolutely loved this book. Unfortunately, I stabbed myself in the foot because I didn't realize that this is the second book in the series. Now when I go and read Inkheart, the first in the series, I'll have a jump start on where all of the characters end up. :D

Already I am eagerly anticipating the third book in the trilogy. (Just like the Christopher Paolini book)


Cornelia Funke weaves together such a beautiful fanciful world where words have such profound effect. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in my own creation. of course, I hope I would have more of a conscience than Fenoglio, the author in this creation.

My heart absolutely broke at the end. I won't say why because that would give away a major plot point for those who might end up reading the book.

I was slightly daunted by the 635 pages but I could not put the book down.

Wow... just about sums up my reaction.

On... Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson

I found myself utterly disappointed by this book. The ultimate lesson that Cole, the main character, learned from his time on the island... a punishment for his aggressive acts... could have been told with much less gore.

The first third of the book deals with Cole navigating through his sentence as part of the Circle of Justice, an alternative sentencing program, to a year alone on an island. Cole decides to rebel and try to escape but ends up getting mauled by a bear. That's where the gratuitousness comes in. Mikaelson tells about the mauling in very detailed form.

I pushed through the book and the last half wasn't as bad. Cole ended up learning a very important lesson but I couldn't enjoy this as much because of the first third.

I definitely don't recommend this book.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

On... A Corner of the Universe by Ann Martin

I absolutely loved this book. I often struggle with how I perceive those with special needs. I don't want to look down on those people because they can't help the way that they were born but at the same time I am human and sometimes the habits are annoying.

A Corner of the Universe tells the story of a summer in the life of Hattie Owens who discovers an uncle she never knew about, an uncle with tendencies that seem to me to be autistic.

Though the time frame of the narration seemed a bit confusing--I couldn't tell whether Hattie was ten or twelve at the beginning of the book but the details were sorted out toward the end.

Very good book.

Monday, July 07, 2008

On... Mick Harte Was Here

I knew nothing about this book when I put it on my list. Of course I put the book on my list because the book is on the recommended summer reading list for the middle school students in my hometown.

Wow. The book almost made me cry. Death is such a real thing and it's something that some middle schoolers have to deal with.

Phoebe, through the course of this book, explored her own conflicting emotions of dealing with memories of her brother after he died and her desire to make sure that everyone remembered him, that they said his name instead of giving trite cliche sayings.

Great book.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

On... what-the-dickens by Gregory Maguire

I'm glad that I gave Maguire another shot after reading Wicked. I really was disappointed with Wicked after hearing such great things about it. (The music for the musical is phenomenal. :D)

I loved Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and now I add what-the-dickens to that list.

I found the story within a story technique well handled even though other reviews I read found the technique confusing. I have to admit though I was confused just a bit with the lack of information given about the setting of the outside story but as the story continued Maguire dropped the information in the story that filled in the missing pieces. The story ends in a bit of a clif-hanger but from what I've read what-the-dickens is intended to be the first in a series. If so, the ending makes perfect sense.

I really loved the book (and even felt good vibes of Artemis Fowl :D). I highly recommend it!

On... Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

I absolutely loved this book! While I did not learn anything new about the historical time period, the Great Depression, I loved seeing it through a different perspective, that of an African American boy.

Bud has a great sense of wit, devising rules for getting through life and not making a fool of himself. These rules, interspersed in the text of the story, are absolutely hilarious!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves to read!