Secret Letters by Leah Scheier




 Secret Letters
Author: Leah Scheier
Genre: YA Mystery
Rating: 3


 I picked this one up while I was putting away some library books at work because the premise sounded promising: A young girl wants to be like Sherlock Holmes, who is a real life person in the story, and solve mysteries in old-time London. This wasn't a bad read, it just fell a bit flat. In my opinion, if you're going to involve Sherlock Holmes in the story as a character (or his "children") it better be very well done to be believable. For me there was just something lacking and I can't quite put my finger on what it was. I just didn't buy into the whole child of Sherlock Holmes thing.
Putting that aside it was a pretty good fast-paced (young adult) mystery.

Dora convinces her cousin to take her to London to seek the help of Sherlock Holmes, only to find out that he has died. Dora's cousin is devasted because she is being blackmailed by compromising letters given to an ex-lover and needs Sherlock's help to get the letters back. However, Dora takes the news much worse than her cousin for reasons she doesn't care to share. Despite the devasting news, they decide to enlist the help of two other investigators in London, one of which, Mr. Cartwright, is close to Dora's age and works in ways reminiscent of Mr. Holmes. Together, Mr. Cartwright and Dora work to solve the problem Dora and her cousin came to London to eliminate. However, they have stumbled upon a situation worse than they bargained on, and putting themselves in danger instead.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow Flower and the
Secret Fan
Author: Lisa See
Rating: 4
Genre:Historical Fiction

I'm glad I finaly read this book, it has been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now. I can see why this book is a popular bookclub book. It's not a particularly happy story, but it is one you will gain something from.

The story takes place in 19th century China in a remote part of the country. Lily, the main character and narrator, comes from a Chinese family of low status. However, she may be able to rise to a higher status because of her "perfect" feet and the match of a laotang (a girl who is sworn to another girl to be there for each other their entire lives). Lily and Snow Flower become laotang and enter into a lifetime of ups and downs. Both girls face obstacles unthinkable to most woman today; footbinding, arranged marriage, and complete submissiviness. An added dimension to this story is the use of nu shu, a secret language used by Chinese women to communicate with each other without men being able to understand the writings.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is very enlightening about some parts of the 19th century Chinese culture. It also made me think and learn more about myself and hopefully taught me to make better decisions in the future.
Overall, a great read, if not the happiest of books.

I will also be watching this movie in the near future and posting a book/movie comparison...

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.5

FINALLY finished it. It took forever to get through!! I was...disappointed. I remember enjoying the first one for some reason (although I didn't write a review so I don't remember why). But this one just didn't make the cut for me. I didn't start enjoying the book until about 3/4 of the way through it. There was too much historical detail for a fantasy fiction book. Don't get me wrong, I love historical fiction, but I think half of this book could have been taken out and it would have made it incredibly better. Ugh, I'm glad I'm finished with it, but sorry I didn't just skip over about 300 pages to save some time. Probably will read the next one though as I can't leave a storyline unfinished and it sounds like there will (hopefully) be more action and stuff actually happening in it.

Diana and Matthew timewalked back in time in order to hide from the Congregation and try to locate Ashmole 762.  Diana finds out more bad stuff about Matthew and blindly accepts it (like every other female in fiction does when it comes to vampires) and Matthew tries to control Diana in every possible way.  However, Diana does learn many new things about herself  in the past which will hopefully help her control her magic better.  She also has a couple pretty big secrets of her own that she keeps from Matthew (sign of a healthy relationship?), which I'm guessing will come out in the next book.  The story got a bit more exciting towards the end when there was a little bit of action going on and it ends on a promise for more action to come.

Overall, a very very long read, and if I could go back in time I would just skip the middle 300 pages.

Family Library Program - Pumpkin Decorating Palooza!

This was so much fun!  This October I really wanted to have a pumpkin decorating contest throughout the month to add some fun decorations around the library and get more people into the library who might not have stopped in before.  I was kinda stuck on how to get people to actually birng in their own pumpkins though.  Soo...I decided to have a Pumpkin Decorating Palooza!

I was worried it would be too spendy for my limited budget, but it really wasn't considering most of the supplies were just random stuff I found in my craft cabinet. And I found these great little fake pumpkins at the dollar store!  The program ended up being a huge hit and it will most likely become an annual event.

Supplies Needed:

- Fake Pumpkins (Dollar Store)
- Paint and Paintbrushes
- Glue
- Mod Podge
- Misc. Decorating Supplies:

• Tissue Paper
• Google Eyes
• Mesh fabric
• Paper crowns
• Pipe cleaners
• Old book pages
• and so much more...

- Old newspapers (to cover tables)

Here's What Went Down:

First I gathered all of my supplies and began to cover all of the tables in newspaper.  (I did enlist some help from teens to get all of the tables covered ;)

Then I stocked up a table and designated it the "Supply Table".

Then I got all of the pumpkins out and waited for people to come!

Thankfully I had a couple volunteers to help with handing out the pumpkins and helping kids pick out supplies!  When people started coming in we gave them each a pumpkin and told them to be as creative as they could be. We also said that if they wanted paint to tell us which color and we would pour some on the paper next to them which turned out to be a great idea! They didn't get the paint everywhere and everyone was able to see all of the colors.

This was a super easy program as almost every child had a parent come with them and the kids didn't need much direction when it came to decorating.  And I had so much fun seeing what these kids came up with!

Once the deocrating had commenced (and all of my pumpkins were taken!)  I told everyone that they could take their pumpkin home or they could leave it at the library for people to vote on throughout the month and they could win a prize from the local bakery (that got their attention!).

The cleanup was a breeze too.  I got rid of a ton of old craft supplies and the tables cleaned up just by taking off the newspapers.

Plus I got a ton of pumpkins to put in the library (and I heard someone say "Who'd have thought we could do this at a library?"  Made my day :)!  Now people keep asking if they can bring in their own pumpkins, which is just what I wanted!

Overall, a big success and hopefully I can repeat it next year!

Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull

Summer and Bird
Katherine Catmull
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 4

I got this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program and am glad I did :) 

Summer is a practical and loving young girl, older sister to Bird, a wild and free-spirited, sometimes irrational little girl. Summer and Bird.  This is a lovely story completely out of the ordinary. After waking  up to find their parents, and cat Sarah, missing one morning, Summer and Bird embark on a magical adventure which will change their lives forever.   A beautiful swan queen, an evil puppeteer, a mysterious old man, and all kinds of birds flock this book and mix with the two girls, for better or worse, throughout the story.  Summer and Bird is filled with many thought provoking issues and beautiful imagery, making it not just a young adult story, but a gret read for adults too.

Summer and Bird was a bit hard for me to get into right away, but it was well worth the difficult start.  I feel like I gained something from reading the story and learned about myself too. (Always the sign of a great book).  I have a feeling this book will become quite popular shortly...

Quote:

"We never really know what might be beside us or ahead, but most days we walk as if we do."
(from uncorrected galley) — Katherine Catmull

Youth Library Program - "Make Your Own Dry Erase Board!"

For the first "big" event of fall programming this year in my tiny library, I decided to try a "Beat the Back to School Blues" theme for youth in town.  We made dry erase boards out of old thrift store picture frames.  I was super worried because this was the first event I had completely planned and carried out on my own (and no extra help was available that day, so I knew I would be running around like a crazy woman).  What if the kids spill paint everywhere (carpet, themselves)? What if I run out of frames because it turned out to be super popular? What if no one comes and now I am stuck with a ton of old picture frames?

Turns out I needn't have worried.  The program went very well and I will probably repeat it in the future. (Pictures will be up within the week)

Supplies Needed:

For the Dry erase boards:

-8x10 old picture frame for everyone who attends

-Paint (I used acrylic)

-Paint brushes

-Sponge brushes

-Cardstock paper in different light colors (for background in frame)

-Blank calendar templates

-Dry erase markers

For set up:

 -Old newspapers

-Glass cleaner
-Paper towels
-Paper cutter

Here's what went down:

I went around to thrift stores around the area and collected some cheapo 8X10 picture frames. (I learned the non-glossy, wood frames allow the paint to dry faster and adhere better to the frame.)

Then I chose acryclic paint in colors youth would most likely enjoy at a local craft shop. (Bright Neon Colors!)

I already had cardstock paper for backing the frames and paint brushes for painting in my stock of "stuff". I also printed off templates of blank calendars in case some people wanted a erasable calendar.

I forgot I would need dry erase markers to give out for the kids to take home, but I found out that old Crayola markers work just fine, so I gave those out instead since I have way too many anyhow.

After getting all of the supplies rounded up, I decided to play it safe and tape newspaer securely around all of the tables I planned on having the kids work on. Turned out this was a great idea.  The kids could just put the paint they wanted to use directly on the newspaper and it made cleanup a breeze.

The Set Up

Then I sat around and waited for people to show up. (The worst part :S)  Thankfully, the perfect amount of people came!  Ten kids showed up to actually make dry erase boards (for the size of town I work in, this is great!) some came with parents and siblings, so around 15 people were there.

For the most part, the program went very well! (Only one minor paint spill.) 

I started off by having everyone choose a frame they wanted to work with.

Then I had everyone remove the backing and glass from the frame to make it easier to paint.

After just the frame remained the kids started painting!

While the paint was drying between coats the kids talked and watched a movie which was playing in the background.

Then, when the final coat was drying, I had the kids pick out the color of cardstock paper they wanted to put in the back of the frame to be the background of their dry erase board and I cut all of the paper to size using a paper cutter. Some of the kids decided they did want to use their boards as calendars so I just glued the calendar template to the cardstock for them.

Once, the frames were dry (or mostly dry) we put the glass, cardstock, and backing back in the frame.

And Voila! Customized dry erase boards :)

What I learned:

-Make sure the kids don't use too much paint! Otherwise the frames will be camping out at the library overnight while they dry.

-If you have to use glossy frames, it would probably be best to sand them first to make it easier for the paint to stick and cover.

-Enlist the help of some adults or older teen volunteers especially if you will be working with a larger group of kids, because you will be running around helping people the entire time. (Cleaning the glass, answering questions, helping choose colors, etc.)

I would say this program was pretty successful!  The kids enjoyed themselves, and it didn’t cost a lot (since what library has money to spare?).  A win-win in my opinion! Plus, I had a lot of fun myself J

The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore



Title: The Rise of Nine
Author: Pittacus Lore
Genre: Teen Sci Fi
Rating: 3.5



Just like the previous two books in this series, The Rise of Nine is a fast, action-packed, quick read. The title is a bit misleading though, as the story doesn't really focus around Number Nine, but tells the story of all of the kids except Number Five. It's a good story to just get lost in for the day it will take you to read it, since it doesn't involve much thinking at all.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith



Title: Abraham Lincoln:
Vampire Hunter
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith
Genre: Sci.-Fi
Rating: 3.5


So I'll admit, I only read the book so I could watch the movie when it comes out on DVD, and I didn't have high hopes, especially given the kinda gross cover.  However, I was pleasantly surprised (I did skip the gory parts though).  It wasn't so completely out there to make it sound absolutely ridiculous and it wasn't so "completely true" to make it seem like an actual boring biography.  I actually found myself looking up different things that happened in the book to see if some of the happened in Lincoln's real life to like his familiy history manic depressive tendencies (so I did learn a little too:) Overall, it was a good read, held my attention and made me curious (possibly curious enough to read a non-fiction book?). 

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Title: Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartmann
Rating: 4.5
Genre: YA Fantasy

I'll admit I judge a book by it's cover sometimes...and this one had a cover so gorgeous I wanted to read the book curled up in bed with the reading lamp on and pretend I was living inside the picture.  And, for the most part, this book lived up to it's attractive cover.

Seraphina has a terrible secret, one so big it could kill her if the truth is learned by the wrong people. Her goal is to stay unnoticed and blend in, however her decision to go to court and her inability to keep her strong opinions to herself make this impossible. Special abilities she didn't realize she had are also making themselves known to her.  While at court Serafina also realizes she may be the key to keeping the peace between dragons and humans during a tumultuous time. Can she restore the peace between humans and dragons and keep her secret hidden?

This is a great "escape your everyday stressful life" read.  It does a good job of putting the reader in a different world; old world setting, with a fantasy element (my favorite). Seraphina gives a very unique take on dragons. They aren't your dragon and rider type or the impersonal "terrifying" kind either.  Instead, the dragons in this story are intelligent and can change forms into human bodies, yet don't view emotions the same as them. Emotions to them are "weak". 

The main heroine, Seraphina, is also very likable, being strong-willed, intelligent, kind-hearted, and downright stubborn at times (though not whiny which happens far too often nowadays). She also has a secret which weighs on her conscience and makes it impossible for her to tell the truth at times.

Meanwhile, the peace between humans and dragons rides a thin line, and Seraphina finds herself thrown into the middle of the conflict.

Overall, this book has everything a good read needs; good setting, strong main character, characters with depth, a bit of mystery, and of course some romance.

Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program and was super exited as I already have all of the previous books in this series :) !

Heather Wells returns! Be ready to put everything you planned on accomplishing for the day on the back burner, because once this book is started, it won't get put down until it's finished. Romance, mystery, action, and lot's of humor, Meg keeps writing amazing, contemporary chick lit.
In this fourth installment of the Heather Wells series, Heather once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery and... mortal peril. But why? Could someone really want Tania Trace or Jordan Cartwright, two of the most beloved pop stars, dead?
While Heather has all the worries of keeping the people around her in Death Dorm safe (along with herself), she's also worrying about how her recent engagement to Cooper Cartwright will be taken by others (most importantly her ex Jordan, Cooper's brother).
Can Heather handle everything and stay alive?


"I've come to the conclusion that, aside from Nazis, the Taliban, and possibly the honey badger, there is no one in the planet more merciless than a teenaged girl, once she's decided she dislikes you."

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Rating: 5
Genre: YA Dystopian

I loved this book.  It's a fast, fun, action-packed read. This book reminded me of a more grown up version of The Giver because of the ceremony to decide your fate for the rest of your life and that whole dystopian theme.  However, it's for a way more grown up audience (not that The Giver can't be enjoyed at all ages:) because there is a lot of brutal violence and the necessary young adult romance aspect.  The violence part reminded me of the Hunger Games (I was in total shock at parts of that book) but in both books it was necessary in the fact that it showed the reader how far society can fall, but people will still accept it as "normal".

In Divergent, Beatrice aka Tris makes a fateful decision to leave her family's faction of Abnegation to join the Dauntless faction, one of five faction's this Dystopian world is made up of; Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Dauntless (the brave), and Abnegation (the selfless. Tris partakes in the brutal Dauntless initiation, trying to prove herself as a fierce compeitor despite her small size and selfless upbringing. Even though Tris feels more at home in the Dauntless faction, there is still something different about her; her test results were inconclusive and she can easily manipulate the serum induced fear tests. Plus, she senses something isn't right in the Dauntless faction; their faction didn't use to be so senselessly violent and brutal. What will she find out about herself? And what is actually going on in the Dauntless faction?  Will she find out before it's too late?

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins



Title: Gregor the Overlander
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 5



I’ll admit, I picked this book up because after reading The Hunger Games trilogy a couple of years ago I wanted to see what else Suzanne Collins could do.  I  had a hard to believing she could tame down her writing enough so that younger kids could comprehend it and not be scared out of their wits.  I was sooo impressed with this book and how well written it is for the intended age group, and cannot wait to read the rest in this series.  I will definitely start recommending this series to more kids looking for adventure novels or something “fun”.

Gregor, a poor, responsible young boy has recently lost his father and starts taking on the tasks of being the "man" of the house.  He does his chores and passes up going to summer camp to take care of his two-year-old sister Boots, and his aging grandma.

However, his summer soon takes a turn when he runs to chase Boots down a vent in the laundry room...and is transported to the "Underland".  Once in the Underland, Gregor faces many difficult choices and challenges thrown his way.  Giant evil rats, huge bats, enormous cockroaches and a strange looking race of humans greet Gregor and Boots in the Underland.  Plus a mysterious prophecy and a whisper of his father leave Gregor confused and shaken, can he overcome all of this?

Gregor the Overlander snuck in so many life lessons, kids reading this book won't even know they are learning to become better people, and adults will be reminded of the people they should try to be every day.  Kindness, forvgiveness, equality, and the ability to hope are repeated throughout this novel making it a fun and exciting adventure with depth.  The reader will find themselves thinking about the story after they have finished reading it, looking at life a little bit differently.

"Even if times got bad, he would never again deny himself the possibility that the future might be happy even if the present was painful. He would allow himself dreams."

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Title: Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 5

After waking up at 2am with far too much on mind (Summer Reading Program, new house, impending wedding, etc.) I picked up Wonderstruck and did not go back to sleep until 4am (oops!), but that's how all consuming this book is.  It is an amazing read!  I am a solidified fan of Brian Selznick now. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is absolutely amazing too.

Review:
A young boy's journey through loss, tragedy, difficult changes, and ultimately the discovery of a lifetime. Ben loses his mother and must live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. Then he faces another major set back when he tries to discover more about his father who he has never met. Ben sets off on the adventure of his lifetime to meet his father, and although the journey and outcome aren't exactly what he expects the results are astounding and change his life forever.

Along with Ben's journey, the story of a young deaf girl named Rose is also told mainly through pictures. The two stories interweave and mesh together perfectly adding an extra element to the book.

The story is masterfully told through not only carefully chosen words, but perfectly suited pictures. This was an awesome novel which people of all ages will enjoy and re-read just to see if they missed anything the first time.

"Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you'd be able to find whatever you were looking for..."

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan



Title: The Serpent's Shadow
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 4.5


 Super sad that this is "supposed" to be the last book in Riordan's Kane Chronicles series.  However, fingers crossed, this isn't actually the case.  I got the feeling after reading this book that maybe (hopefully) a book combining Egyptian mythology with the Greek/Roman mythology is in the future.

I love Riordan's junior fiction books, but I do find the Kane Chronicles more difficult to follow  than the Percy Jackson or Lost Heroes of Olympus series.  Most likely because I am just more familiar with Greek mythology than Egyptian mythology.  That being said, I love being able to learn mroe about Egytian mythology through this series.

In this book, the battle to stop Apophis, the god of Chaos, is the center of the plot.  Of course Carter and Sadie Kane's messy yet entertaining love lives are also part of the plot line.  The Kane children face numerous challenges and obstacles they need to overcome which make for a book packed full of non-stop actiona and adventure. Don't start this book unless you have plenty of time to read becasue it will be one which is really hard to put down.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Rating: 3.5

This was not a bad read, but it wasn't particularly great either. I probably had too high of expectations going into it though.  Historical fiction, mixed with fantasy, and a touch of romance; a bit too good to be true.  The characters didn't particularly click with me, but maybe that's because I never understood the popular and annoying 16 year old mindset. They just seemed like the type of people at school I would have avoided at all costs, but maybe that was the point of the book; to show the snotty kids perspective?  Whatever the case, I will probably try and finish the series at some point because for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, I'm curious.  Maybe the next ones will be better?

Overview:
After a terrifying vision and the murder of her mother, Gemma's life is changed forever.  She is sent to boarding school in England after a life in India and discovers the difficulty of fitting in, making friends, staying true to herself, while also learning about a dangerous secret Order and her connection to it.  A gift she didn't know she had also appears and she must learn how to manage it. However, a mysterious young man has followed her from India to England to warn Gemma against using this new gift she has discovered, but should she listen? Gemma faces many difficult decsions, but will she make the right choices?

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart



The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
Trenton Lee Stewart
Junior Fiction
Rating: 4.5

I was so excited when I saw that this book had come out.  I absolutely love the three previous Mysterious Benedict Society books.  They are great reads for kids and young adults (and adults too of course :) because they are packed with adventure, mystery, and drama. While at the same time the stories teach valuable lessons about freindship, bullying, and other weighty issues.

Review:
This book tells us about Nicholas Benedict's (the "teacher" of the children in the three previous novels) unusual childhood.  I was skeptical.  I thought I would be disappointed since the children I have grown to love in the other novels weren't in this story, but that was not the case.  I loved the characters just as much in this novel!  It was very cool to see how all of the characters in this novel grew and some of the reasons why they turned into the people they do in the previously published novels.

Nicholas Benedict is your not-so-typical, super-smart, narcolpetic young boy. This story begins with his journey to a new orphanage (as Mr. Benedict is an orphan himself) called Rothschild's End.  He dreams of a fresh start where he will have freinds and fit in, unfortunately that is not what happens immediately.  Nicholas is warned of the Spiders, the orphanage's notorious bullies, before he even enters the building and the Headmaster, Mr. Collum,  is not a compassionate or caring man.

However, Nicholas' stay at Rothschild's End isn't all bad.  He is able to learn many valuable life lessons, gain a couple amazing new friends (John and Violet), all while on the hunt for a hidden treasure.  Will Nicholas and his two friends figure out where the treasure is located before the Mr. Collum?  Can Nicholas ever "defeat" the Spiders? Is it possible for someone so different to fit in?

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Title: Gilt
Author: Katherine Longshore
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5

I received Gilt from the Early Reviewer's program on Library Thing and one again was able to discover a wonderful book I probably would have never purchased on my own.  I enjoy historical fiction, but am leary of purchasing these type of novels because it's hard to find an author who writes them well. Gilt was a fun historical fiction novel, written more so for teens, (most of the conflict revolves around teen drama) but can be applied and enjoyed by all ages.
Review:
Gilt is a teen historical fiction novel about the Henry VIII debacle. This story focuses around Cat's, Catherine Howard, story told from the perspective of Cat's childhood friend Kiity.

Even though Henry VII and Cat are in the novel, Kitty's transformation from a girl who does whatever she is told to a free-thinking individual is the main focus. Gilt is filled with romance, hte intrigue of court life, difficult choices, consequences, and revelations.

This novel was one I couldn't put down. It held all the elements of a great historical fiction novel. I would definitely recommend this to others, mainly teens, who enjoy historical fiction especially about Henry VII. It's not as detailed as a Phillipa Gregory novel, but a good fast read.

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen

Title: The Secrets of Mary Bowser
Author: Lois Leveen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5

I received this as part of an Early Reviewer program through LibraryThing and was super excited because I haven't read a Civil War era story in quite some time.  I was really impressed by this novel because of all the historical detail in it and how inspiring the story is for the reader.

Review:
Centered around a strong female African American character, this book provides a story filled with inspiration and hope.
Mary is a slave in Richmond, Virginia who is set free and sent North to receive an education by her wealthy mistress, Bet Van Lew. Mary leaves her beloved parents behind in Virginia to receive her education and realizes that she wants more than to just be free and educated; she wants to make a difference and help end slavery. So when Mary is given the chance to return to Richmond and turn spy for the Union against President Jefferson Davis, she takes it. Along the way, Mary is confronted with many difficult choices, discovers love and loss, and risks everything she has to help end slavery.
A wonderful, inspirational story the reader will enjoy while also learning something about American history

The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig



Title: The Garden Intrigue
Authour: Lauren Willig
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
Rating: 5


Lauren Willig is one of my favorite authors and I always get super excited when a new Pink Carnation comes out because I am never disappointed.  This book was no exception. Someday I will make it to one of her book signings even if I have to take a plane to get to there :)

Review:
The Garden Intrigue takes place in France and centers around the relatable Emma Delagardie and the poet/spy Augustus Whittlesby.  Emma is a flirtatious widow who knows a lot more than she lets on; even possibly about the secret machine Bonaparte is waiting for to use against England.  Augustus, on the other hand, is a seemingly superfluous spy ;) whose feelings about Emma may lead him astray from the task at hand; discovering out about Bonaparte's secret machine. 

Overall, the  characters are wonderful and funny and the plot races along so fast you can't put the book down. I recommend this series to people all the time and will continue to with this book.

“Why was it that cheering expressions were invariably so infuriating?”

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and the Movie Adaption Directed by Hayao Miyazaki



Title: Howl's Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 4.5



 I found the book Howl’s Moving Castle at a local used book store and had to have it.  I remembered hearing about it before and it had a cool looking cover so I was in.  It was a lovely junior fiction story I would recommend to kids who want something "fun" to read or anyone else who likes a good story. 

Review:

Howl's Moving Castle is a really fast and fun, feel-good story. It is set within a magical land full of witches, wizards, curses and enchantments, royalty, and all kinds of different creatures (including a mischievous fire demon stuck in a hearth). If you like stories packed full of adventure, humor, and magic, this book is for you!

Title: Howl's Moving Caslte
Director:  Hayao Miyazaki
Rating Based on Book: 2
Rating Independent of Book: 4



   

The Movie Counterpart:

I had never seen an anime movie before watching Howl’s Moving Castle and I'm having mixed feelings about it.  I love the book so this may have prejudiced me against the movie as the movie took a lot of liberty on the plot.  This is the type of movie adaption I’m not a fan of; taking a perfectly good storyline and changing it for no apparent reason (at least no reason I could divine). Sometimes, yes changing the plot a bit is necessary because of time constraints or the ease of portraying a certain ‘feeling’ important to the book, however, this was not the case in this movie.  

I found myself asking (out loud) “What?” and “Why?” a lot through the movie and explaining to my fiancé what should be happening according to the book. (I mean no one was afraid of the scarecrow?)   Sophie’s whole family dilemma didn’t come off accurately, the Witch of the Waste was not what I expected, and Howl’s curse?! I don’t even know what that was about.

Overall, if you’re looking for a good movie representation of a wonderful book, you’ll probably be disappointed.  However, if you want to watch an animated movie (not compared to the book), it’s actually not that bad. 

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Title: Sisterhood Everlasting
Author: Ann Brashares
Genre: Adult Fiction
Rating: 5

I was so excited when I ran across this book while shelving at the library.  Another book about the Sisterhood girls I grew up with through highschool? Wow! It was an unexpected, but totally welcome surprise and I wasn't disappointed.

Review:
A book you won't be able to put down. The four best friends from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series are now almost thirty and still as interesting as ever. This time you find them all living in different places and dealing with all sorts of problems. From being a semi-famous actress, to a teacher who spends too much time alone waiting for her life to begin. However, an unexpected tragedy hits and the women are sent scrambling to cope with their loss and sort out their quickly unraveling lives. What paths will these ladies finally choose and will they all pick the right road?


Sisterhood Everlasting was also filled with some amazing quotes which are too good not to share :)


“You get older and you learn there is one sentence just four worlds long and if you can say it to yourself it offers more comfort than almost any other. It goes like this… Ready ”
 “Ready.”
 “At least I tried.”

“Maybe you think you’ll be entitled to more happiness later by forgoing all of it now, but it doesn’t work that way. Happiness takes as much practice as unhappiness does. It’s by living that you live more. By waiting you wait more. Every waiting day makes your life a little less. Every lonely day makes you a little smaller. Every day you put off your life makes you less capable of living it.”

“She loved her mother and depended on her mother, and yet every single word her mother said annoyed her.” (This one made me laugh out loud, waking up my fiance from his nap next to me, because it is so true sometimes.)

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

Title: Wildwood
Author: Colin Meloy
Genre: Junior Fiction
Rating: 2

I saw this book while processing at the library and the cover is what immediately caught my attention, however this story fell a bit flat for me despite talking animals and a magical, mysterious forest. It was not particularly engrossing and was far too political and advanced for being a junior fiction novel. The idea of the novel, having a secret magical land hidden inside the local forest, is fantastic and I expected a lot more than what I got out of it. The characters didn't blow me away and the plot felt a bit thin. I felt like there was too much talk of politics and not enough actual story to keep me wanting to read more.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

Title: The Borrower
Author: Rebecca Makkai
Genre: Adult Fiction
Rating: 3

An OK read. It was pretty far-fetched (an inadvertent kidnapping?) and the main character didn't have much common sense (an inadvertent kidnapping!) which got fairly annoying after a while. And it was kind of irritating how stereotyped the librarians in the novel seemed to be (maybe that is just because I work in a library myself). However, there were some redeeming elements which made me continue reading like the occasional literary humor and issues dealing with gays. I'm glad I read it, but I would definitely not re-read it.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Adult Fiction/Fantasy
Rating: 5

A lovely story to get swept away with magic, romance, and always an air of mystery. The Night Circus is filled with characters you wish you could meet, along with a couple you hope you never run into.
Celia Bowen and Marco are bound together by a mysterious and magical challenge at a young age and the Night Circus is the heart of their dangerous game. However, the longer the challenge goes on, the more other people get intertwined and the more threatening it becomes. Numerous plot lines are beautifully interwoven to give the reader a truly satisfying story.

“The finest of pleasures are always the unexpected ones.”

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Title: The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Genre: Adult Fiction
Rating: 5

Wonderful read. Powerfully written from the point of view of three extraordinary women who are ready for a change in the segregated city of Jackson, Mississippi 40 years ago. Skeeter, a white female who wishes to become an author, dares to write a book telling the stories of black maids working for white women. Aibileen and Minny, two of the black maids within the story and who are two of the narrators in the book, share their stories, both the good and the bad about working for white families. Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter's thoughts, actions, and emotions are portrayed throughout the book giving the book added depth and allowing the reader to see how each person was affected by writing the book. Overall, a great book that will make you stop and think.
"You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy



Title: The Apothecary

Author: Maile Meloy

Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Library Thing Early Reviewer
Rating: 4



A highly enjoyable and fun read. The Apothecary provides a great mix of history combined with magic and adventure. Janie, the main character, is forced to move to London from L.A. with her parents during the Cold War which she is not happy about. However, she ends up meeting a boy named Benjamin in London and together they embark on a dangerous mission to stop the testing of an atomic bomb.  They are helped out with the aid of magic, adding a welcome fantasy element to this story.  I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy stories with adventure and magic like Harry Potter and others in that genre.