Reviews of elementary award winners from 2014

Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner (Caldecott honor)
Notes: "Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys but one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens. When Mr. Wuffles plays rough with the little ship, the aliens must venture into the cat's territory to make emergency repairs"--Provided by publisher.
Do not be fooled by the adorable cat on the front cover! This is not your average cute cat book.  It's filled with spaceships, aliens and insects. This book's unusually paired characters and the spare text (some of which is in alien language, not English) will appeal to the vivid imaginations of storytellers, paticularly reluctant boys.

A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jennifer Bryant (Sibert honor, Schneider Family award)
Notes: Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet team up once again to share this inspiring story of a self-taught painter from humble beginnings who despite many obstacles, was ultimately able to do what he loved, and be recognized for who he was: an artist.
An excellent beginner biography of a painter I'd never heard of before, a man who overcame significant obstacles and re-taught himself to paint in a whole new way after being wounded in WWI.  Lovers of art and children with obstacles to overcome in their own lives will find a friend in Horace Pippin.

Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales (Pura Belpré illustrator award)
Notes: "A Neal Porter Book"--Title page. Lucha Libre champion Nino has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a no-holds-barred wrestling match that will truly test his skills.
An adorable little boy and his twin sisters, excellent word choice, and cultural endnotes combine to make this a book many children will love and learn from.

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan Roth (Sibert award)
Notes: Includes bibliographical references. "A combined history of the Puerto Rican parrot and the island of Puerto Rico, highlighting current efforts to save the Puerto Rican parrot by protecting and managing this endangered species"
Interesting historical information about the Puerto Rican people and fascinating scientific information about the conservation efforts to save the nearly extinct parrots alone would make for a top-notch book, but paired as they are with gorgeous mixed-media collage, this book is truly top notch.

4 Seuss Geisel award winners from 2014

Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes (Seuss Geisel honor) Notes: Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin's grass, but gets a pleasant surprise when she goes to return it the next day.
This book is a little longer than most of the other beginning readers or at least has more text than the others (perhaps not more pages).  There's nice repetition of words and simple sentences, allowing young readers to build confidence.

A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems (Seuss Geisel honor) Notes: Piggie is upset because a whale took the ball she found, but Gerald finds a solution that pleases all of them.
Mo Willems' ability to put expressions on the faces of his very simple characters is pretty amazing.  Repetitive word choice that's good for beginning readers. Funny story, as always, and good lessons.

Ball by Mary Sullivan (Seuss Geisel honor)
Notes: While searching for someone to play ball with him, a dog dreams of fantastical adventures he could have with his ball.
Amusing cartoon panel pictures and the one word text will appeal to visual learners and their creative imaginations.  This would be a great book to use with writers - beginning to middle grade -  who could create stories from the panels.

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (Seuss Geisel winner)
Notes: After swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome.
Haven't all kids worried about swallowing a watermelon seed? Well crocodiles are apparently no different.  Kids will love the bright illustrations and funny story.

When Audrey Met Alice, by Rebecca Behrens

From the Publisher: Living in the White House is like being permanently grounded. Only with tighter security. When First Daughter Audrey Rose discovers Alice Roosevelt's hidden diary, the White House will never be the same. Because Audrey stops being the perfect "First Daughter" and starts asking herself, What Would Alice Do?

Strengths: Similar to the way many girls want to be princesses, many people think being a kid in the White House would be fun.  I mean, they have their own bowling alley!! This story presents both the good and not as good things about living in the White House.  I really enjoyed the tie-back to history, especially because Alice Roosevelt, whose supposed diary Audrey has found, was a delightful whippersnapper whose character I love.  Strong voice from both first daughters. This story was plain fun to read. Great endnotes by author.

I'm excited to have such a strong debut by this author - it bodes well for the future!

Weaknesses: Although I find it charming, I do not think the cover will be very appealing to kids and will make it a harder sell.  I hope I am wrong.

This book is perfect for grades 5-8.

This book would pair well with  the picture book What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy... by Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham 

Publication date: Feb. 4. I read an e-galley of this book from NetGalley.

Counting by 7s, Holly Goldberg Sloan

Notes: Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

From the Publisher: In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

Strengths: Willow's character is very well developed, as are all the characters in the story. Her situation is heartbreaking and makes readers feel for her immediately. Willow's unusual narrative style was very appealing to me; it felt like it fit perfectly for this story. I like a happy ending, even though I know it's not necessarily always the case in real life.

Weaknesses: This book may be a hard sell to many middle schoolers because Willow is just a bit too quirky (such as her narrative style that I liked so much) and it will take a strong reader to put together why. I also felt that the situation was  a bit too unrealistic as far as the whole foster family thing and the school counselor. I'm all for suspending some disbelief, but for me I had to over-suspend. Perhaps kids, without the background knowledge of the state/education systems wouldn't struggle with this as much (or at all). Interestingly, I didn't struggle with the idea of the taxi driver seeing Willow as divine guidance, but other readers might.

Flora and the Flamingo, Idle, Molly Schaar

This book is  on a Mock Giesel list, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Notes: On lift-the-flap pages. In this wordless book, a friendship develops between a girl named Flora and a graceful flamingo, as they learn to dance together.

From the Publisher: In this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her graceful flamingo friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance. With a twist, a turn, and even a flop, these unlikely friends learn at last how to dance together in perfect harmony. Full of humor and heart, this stunning performance (and splashy ending!) will have readers clapping for more!

Strengths: This book is super, super cute. The pictures are darling and the interactions between Flora and the flamingo are delightful, even though they're wordless. Having watched some large birds (egrets and herons, though, not flamingos) dancing in the shallows last year, I thought the dance moves were really quite true to life. Dancers will flock to this book (sorry, couldn't help myself!!).

Weaknesses: The physical book wasn't available in my library, but the e-book was, so I thought I'd read that.  I read lots of books on my Kindle and my iPad, so Im definitely not opposed to e-books, but let me tell you, lift the flap e-books, not nearly as fun as the real thing.  The cover of the book is pink, and even at a young age, some boys balk at pink anything (as do some boys' parents). I think they could have gone with yellow for sand or sun or turquoise for waves or something. I know this is gender stereotyping, but this is what I see in my schools, and I wouldn't want a boy to miss this book just because of its color. Flap books are tough ones for libraries, in any case.  Since I didn't see the actual book, I'm unsure of the durability of these pages, but they'd need to be pretty darn tough to withstand a library.

Books about effort, including Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird

An elementary school recently invited me to read a book at their school assembly. They are working on the character trait of effort, and asked if I could pick a book that fit that topic.  If you remember my post about a Thanksgiving story, you'll know I love this type of challenge - finding a read aloud on a particular topic that I can also dress up for!  And you'll also remember that I have to read a lot of books to find the perfect one.  Finding a book to read to a whole elementary school is a tricky thing, but Giant Dance Party worked beautifully!

Lexy is a dancer, but she's done with dance classes.  Dance classes mean dance recitals, and those are NOT Lexy's thing.  But she decides that since she still loves dancing, perhaps she'll teach dance.  After all no performing is required of teachers (of course every teacher in the room rolled his/her eyes when I read that part!). Lexy goes through quite a lot of effort to get the dance lessons off the ground, unfortunately, all to no avail.  No one comes to her dance lessons.  Until...the giants.  And although giants don't dance, Lexy figures out (more effort) how to teach them to dance. And she discovers something about herself in the end as well. It's a fun and funny book that models the value of effort in a painless and non-didactic way that the kids enjoyed. AND since it mentions the chicken dance in the story, we all got to learn and do the chicken dance at the end.  It was a delight.  I'll be using the same story for another school that's focusing on perseverance after the holidays. If you haven't seen this book by the brilliant Betsy Bird, librarian and blogger extraordinaire, check it out soon.

Me in my Lexy costume

Other books I considered for my assembly presentation that have to do with effort are listed below.  I liked these books, but they weren't just right for the assembly.

The Boy Who Loved Math

The Improbable Life of Paul ErdösBy Heiligman, Deborah

Dream Big, Little Pig!

By Yamaguchi, Kristi

Electrical Wizard

How Nikola Tesla Lit up the WorldBy Rusch, Elizabeth

A Picture Book of Harry Houdini

By Adler, David A.

Wilma Unlimited

How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest WomanBy Krull, Kathleen

Amelia and Eleanor Go for A Ride

Based on A True StoryBy Ryan, Pam Muñoz

Apples to Oregon

[being the (slightly) True Narrative of How A Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) across the Plains]By Hopkinson, Deborah

Cesar

Si, Se Puede! = Yes, We Can!By Bernier-Grand, Carmen T.

Dex

The Heart of A HeroBy Buehner, Caralyn

Jack and the Giant Barbecue

By Kimmel, Eric A.

Papa's Mechanical Fish

By Fleming, Candace

Salt in His Shoes

Michael Jordan in Pursuit of A DreamBy Jordan, Deloris

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees, Sandra Markle

From the publisher:

Honeybees are a crucial part of our food chain. As they gather nectar from flowers to make sweet honey, these bees also play an important role in pollination, helping some plants produce fruit. But large numbers of honeybees are disappearing every year... and no one knows why. Is a fungus killing them? Could a poor diet be the cause? What about changes to bees' natural habitat? In this real-life science mystery, scientists and beekeepers are working to answer these questions... and save the world's honeybees before it's too late.

Strengths: The photographs in this book are incredible, the layout motif of a honeycomb ties everything together nicely and doesn't overpower either the photos or the text, and the information is clear and fascinating. The language and  less formal style make the book accessible and make the science graspable for even readers who might not have a strong science background.

Weaknesses: Picture captions are adequate to good, but I think more could have been done with those to enhance the text for stronger readers who wanted more in-depth information.

Reminds me of the excellent Scientists in the Field series but at a more basic level. 

Recommended.

I read an e-ARC of this book.

Rule of Thirds, Chantel Guertin

From the Publisher:

Sixteen-year-old Pippa Greene never goes anywhere without her camera. She and her best friend/supermodel-in-training Dace long ago mapped out their life plan: Pippa will be the noted fashion photographer, and Dace the cover girl. But ever since last spring, things have changed for Pippa—and her junior year at Spalding High proves to have its own set of challenges. Not only is Vantage Point, the statewide photography competition, in three short weeks, but her mandatory volunteering placement lands her at St. Christopher's Hospital, a place Pippa never wanted to set foot in again. With humor and pluck, she navigates her new role as a candy striper (watch out for Code Yellows), her changing relationship with her best friend (goodbye, Honesty Pact), and—perhaps most stressful of all—her new love interests (yes, love interests plural). Will Pippa make it to Vantage Point without having a panic attack? Will either one of the guys prove less sketchy than her last boyfriend? Can she and Dace figure out a way to dream big and be best friends? One thing is certain: real life is a lot more complicated than a photograph.

Strengths: I really enjoyed this book's pacing and character development. Even though one of the characters was a slimeball, and I couldn't stand him, his character was well-developed.  I loved that the main character's name was Philadelphia, even though only one person called her that.  I liked that there was a part of Pippa' life that readers had to discover and I thought that the way it was revealed, in little bits, was interesting. Pippa's panic attacks were realistic and something many kids deal with. It's good to have books that show characters in these kinds of situations because it helps readers in similar situations feel less alone.  Of course, as a photographer, I loved that the book was about photography.

Weaknesses: The slimeball character didn't ever seem to end up with any true consequences, and in fact his behavior seemed to be pretty much glossed over.  In real life, things sometimes happen like that, but hopefully not very often, especially when it's so blatant. I would have liked it if Pippa made a more overt effort toward making sure he did not get away with his inappropriate behavior.  I didn't like Dace, Pippa's best friend very much.  I didn't think she was a particularly well developed character and she seemed pretty shallow, although part of that turned out to be an act. 

This was a sweet romance with some twists appropriate for 8th grade and up.

I read an e-ARC of this book which will be published on October 1.

The Day My Brain Exploded, Ashok Rajamani

From the Publisher: After a full-throttle brain bleed at the age of twenty-five, Ashok Rajamani, a first-generation Indian American, had to relearn everything: how to eat, how to walk and to speak, even things as basic as his sexual orientation. With humor and insight, he describes the events of that day (his brain exploded just before his brother's wedding!), as well as the long, difficult recovery period. In the process, he introduces readers to his family—his principal support group, as well as a constant source of frustration and amazement. Irreverent, coruscating, angry, at times shocking, but always revelatory, his memoir takes the reader into unfamiliar territory, much like the experience Alice had when she fell down the rabbit hole. That he lived to tell the story is miraculous; that he tells it with such aplomb is simply remarkable.

More than a decade later he has finally reestablished a productive artistic life for himself, still dealing with the effects of his injury—life-long half-blindness and epilepsy— but forging ahead as a survivor dedicated to helping others who have suffered a similar catastrophe.

Strengths: This was a pretty fascinating story of a man who had a massive brain bleed at a very young age (25). The effect of the harrowing events that began on the day of his brother's wedding continue today, a decade later. Hearing what happened to him as a result of the bleed and how he dealt with them was quite interesting.  Many, many people have catastrophic brain injuries which because they can't be seen, get a different treatment in our culture than more visible injuries.  Rajamani addresses some of those issues, which will serve to heighten awareness of the issues at hand for those unaware.  Rajamani also has a good sense of humor about many of the things that happened to him.

Weaknesses:  The story does not seem very cohesive in many places, jumping from one idea/event to the next with little transition.  This, however, may just highlight what's still happening in Rajamani's brain.

A good addition to high school libraries looking for more literary nonfiction.

Available from Multnomah County Library as an e-book.

The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion

This is the best adult book I have read this year!

From the Publisher: An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love. Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a wonderful husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical-most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver. Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent-and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie-and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper. The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Strengths: This book is laugh out loud funny as well as sweet and charming.  I love how Don realizes he's socially inept and tries to take steps to work on it, even if his steps are disastrous.  I love how Rosie just hangs with it. I love how dense Don is about the obvious, and how tenacious he is about trying to get things perfect. I love the detail that's brought out in the book that brings Don's character to life. I could visualize everything in this book, and I will be shocked if it is not optioned for a movie. 

This is a completely typical boy meets girl story that is completely atypical due to the main character's quirky personality.  I finally had to have my husband read this book at the same time I was, or else I would have read most of it out loud to him.

Weaknesses: None.  loved this book!

I received an electronic galley of this book from the publisher. The book is due out in he US in October of 2013. Do not miss this book!

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place : The Mysterious Howling

I got this book from Audiosync's FREE summer downloads.  Still not doing that?  GET ON IT!  This week is Carter Finally Gets It and She Stoops to Conquer. Such a great opportunity.  And you can keep the files as long as you like so it's not as if you have to listen to both books in one week.  Although I did actually listen to two books in one week a few back.  Too much time in the car!  But I digress...

From the Publisher:

Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

Strengths:  I thought that the mystery of this story - who are these children, actually? Why were they living in the woods raised by wolves? What is the mysterious howling? etc., was great.  I liked the personalities of Miss Lumley and of the children.  I didn't like Lady Constance, but that was the point of her character, to be sure.  It was a fun read because it was just a little bit different, what with the old-fashioned way of speaking, the way the children talked, and the strange nature of their behavior.

Weaknesses: I think it might be just a little too different to appeal to most middle school readers. I listened to it on audio, which was excellent, but I think that perhaps reading some of the story - particularly the childrens' speech patterns, might be very challenging.  Some of the vocabulary, although occasionally defined within the course of the story, would also be too challenging for most readers and turn readers off from the story, which is too bad.

Return to Me, Justina Chen

From the Publisher: Nothing is going as planned for Rebecca Muir. She's weeks away from starting college--at a school chosen specifically to put a few thousand miles of freedom between Reb and her parents. But her dad's last-minute job opportunity has her entire family moving all those miles with her! And then there's the matter of her unexpected, amazing boyfriend, Jackson, who is staying behind on the exact opposite coast. And if that isn't enough to deal with, mere days after moving cross-country, Reb's dad drops shocking, life-changing news. With her mother and brother overwhelmed and confused, Reb is left alone to pick up the pieces of her former life. But how can she do that when everything can change in an instant? How can she trust her "perfect" boyfriend when her own dad let her down? Reb started the year knowing exactly what her future would hold, but now that her world has turned upside down, will she discover what she really wants? Justina Chen, the acclaimed author of North of Beautiful , has created a moving and powerful novel about the struggles that arise from betrayal, the uncertainty of life after high school, and the joy that ultimately comes from discovering what's truly in your heart.


Strengths: The story of betrayal told in this novel will ring true for many children with a parent who decides to leave his or her family.  The shock and overwhelming topsy-turviness of that situation can be crushing and leave the family members reeling. People in such situations sometimes make self-destructive decisions.  Watching Rebecca go through this terrible scenario will be comforting to other young people in a similar situation and also might prevent them from making some of the same choices as Reb which she realizes, in the end, were the wrong choices.

Weaknesses: I thought that although the characters talked about and described the deep pain they were going through, they also seemed to recover from it and forgive more quickly than was realistic. Reb also seemed wise beyond her years in many ways. Not that a girl like her couldn't exist, and certainly she was far from perfect, but she was just a little too insightful in many ways, and it didn't quite ring true.

Overall I think this book will be well received by middle and high school students.

Written in Stone, Rosanne Parry

From the Publisher: Rosanne Parry author of Heart of a Shepherd, shines a light on Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest in the 1920s, a time of critical cultural upheaval.

Pearl has always dreamed of hunting whales, just like her father. Of taking to the sea in their eight-man canoe, standing at the prow with a harpoon, and waiting for a whale to lift its barnacle-speckled head as it offers its life for the life of the tribe. But now that can never be. Pearl's father was lost on the last hunt, and the whales hide from the great steam-powered ships carrying harpoon cannons, which harvest not one but dozens of whales from the ocean. With the whales gone, Pearl's people, the Makah, struggle to survive as Pearl searches for ways to preserve their stories and skills.

I read an e-ARC of this title

Strengths: Excellent cultural information about the Makah Indians, strong character development, good suspense, good action.  I really enjoyed this story and there is such a need for good Native American literature that I'm extremely pleased to ahve this book. The book also has a downloadable curriculum packet developed by the good folks at Random House.

Weaknesses: This is not a weakness of the book, but unfortunately students in my district study Native Americans a third grade and for most of those students this book will not work for them.  Perhaps as a read-aloud it could work, but even still I think it would be better at a fifth grade level or up.

Touch, Kim Firston

Touch by Kim Firston

From the Publisher: Ethan has the perfect plan to impress his dad -- a "white-hat" hacker who works in IT security. He'll hack into the high school's computer system and release a relatively harmless virus created from an old modified code of his dad's. Ethan knows his dad will recognize him as the mastermind when it hits the evening news. Unfortunately for Ethan, when the segment does air, Dad misses it -- all his attention is on troubled stepsister Haley.

Ethan launches a full out battle for attention, only to find out that the fight has been one-sided when Haley accuses his dad of molesting her. Ethan refuses to believe the allegations against his dad are true, until he hacks into an old computer of his dad's and makes a startling discovery. Ethan has strived his whole life to be just like his dad, but when this dark secret comes to light, he doesn't know what kind of person that makes him.

I read an e-ARC of this title.

Strengths: This is part of part of Lorimer's SideStreets collection written for older struggling readers, so the storylines are for older kids but the writing level is lower so they're more accessible.  This book had lots of action and plenty of suspense and I think it will appeal to the target group. The length is also good for struggling readers.  It's just 152 pages. The technology thread at the beginning of the story will definitely appeal to techy, gadget obsessed readers. The behavior of the Haley rang true for many girls in her situation.

Weaknesses: I felt this this story tried to do too many things and consequently, didn't do any of them real justice. I also felt many things that happened in the story were implausible. However, my thoughts as an adult may be markedly different than those of the target group. I also didn't feel that the reading level as quite as low as the publisher suggested, as some of the vocabulary was fairly high.

Recommended for mature but struggling middle school readers and struggling high school readers.

Adult Book Club titles Wild, Cheryl Strayed and Gone Girl, Gilian Flynn

From the Publisher:

A Best Nonfiction Book of 2012: The Boston Globe, Entertainment WeeklyA Best Book of the Year: NPR, St. Louis Dispatch, Vogue

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone. Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Strengths: An utterly compelling story of a woman who was clearly struggling and managed to overcome some serious obstacles in life. I really enjoyed the story in this book. This was probably the best book club discussion we've had in our five or so years of meeting. It was fantastic.

Weaknesses: I wanted to bat her over the head many times during the reading for being such a ding-dong (again, that's me judging the character, not really the book). The writing was not particularly strong, but the storyline overcame it.

From the Publisher:

Marriage can be a real killer.
One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribuneproclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

Strengths: I repeatedly had no idea what was coming in this book and definitely was drawn into the story. Made a great book club discussion book!

Weaknesses: By the end, it had all become too unbelievable.  My suspension of disbelief snapped about 3/4 of the way in.  I still finished it, but I was over it.

All You Could Ask For, Mike Greenberg

From the Publisher:

All You Could Ask For, debut novel by Mike Greenberg, cohost of ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning, is a tender and insightful story of friendship and love, heartbreak and renewal, played out in the lives of three unforgettable women.

Brooke has been happily married to her college sweetheart for fifteen years. Even after the C-section, the dog poop, the stomach viruses and the coffee breath, Scott always winks at her in just the right moments. That is why, for her beloved, romantic, successful husband's fortieth birthday, she is giving him pictures. Of herself. Naked.

Newlywed Samantha learns of her husband's cheating heart when she finds the goods on his computer.

High-powered career woman Katherine works with heartbreaker Phillip, the man who hurt her early on in her career.

Brooke, Samantha, and Katherine don't know each other, but their stories are about to intertwine in ways no one could have imagined.

And all three are about to discover the power of friendship to conquer adversity, the satisfaction of unexpected delights, the incredible difference one human being can have on other lives--and that they have all they could ask for, as long as they have each other.

I really enjoyed this book that begins with the stories of three disparate women and brings them together in a remarkable way. I thought it was really well done.  Funny and serious, heartbreaking and hopeful.

Strengths: The man who wrote this captured women's voices incredibly well.  The character development was strong, and I appreciated that we knew each of the characters well individually before they crossed paths. The author was able to infuse the story with humor even when discussing difficult situations, which is what real life is like often. The topic was very timely for me, as I've had several friends diagnosed with breast cancer in the last year.

**spoiler alert**

Weaknesses: I know that in the situations I've seen, my friends have relied heavily on their partner for strength, compassion, clarity, and courage over the course of their diagnosis and treatment, and that ultimately, that's brought them closer together.  I can't imagine how the one character in this story who did not ever tell her husband was able to hold it together, and I am unsure it's realistic.  How could you hold all that in?  It's so big. I also don't think it's a good idea. I am probably, however, being Pollyanna.  People hide things from their spouses all the time, although I'm not one of them and can't imagine even trying.  Even though I felt it was a weakness, I think it was more me being judgmental of the character than of the writing or the story itself.

Sweet Hereafter, Angela Johnson

From the Publisher: SHOOGY DOESN'T KNOW WHERE SHE belongs. Since she moved to Heaven, she can count on one hand the number of people she can depend on. Her family doesn't understand her, and school isn't working out. In Curtis she finds someone with a similar habit of wanting to be alone -- and so they spend time alone together. As their relationship matures, Curtis has to deal with the real demons of his experience in Iraq, and Shoogy must come to terms with what it means to truly care about -- and lose -- someone. Angela Johnson tackles her most difficult subject yet in this heartrending look at the far-reaching effects of war and the possibilities it destroys.

Strengths: Angela Johnson is a terrific writer who generally develops strong characters. This book finishes the trilogy that began with Heaven, and continued in The First Part Last, one of my favorite YA books of all time. This story deals with the Iraq war and its effects on young veterans. This is an important topic not addressed in many YA novels.

Weaknesses: I felt like I was unclear on what was happening during a lot of this story, and I worry that many kids will too.  This book is definitely for more mature readers with strong inference skills.

Hattie Ever After

Have you ever read a book that just really stuck with you?  Of course I have, but it's not so often the YA book that do that for me.  Kirby Larson's Newbery Honor book, Hattie Big Sky was one of those books for me.  Hattie just wormed her way into my soul from her Montana homestead and took up residence.  I rooted for her and loved her and cried with her when things got difficult.  I didn't expect, however, to ever see her again once I'd finished Hattie Big Sky.  So perhaps you can imagine my excitement when I heard at the ALA conference that Hattie was back, and then they even gave me an advanced reader's copy.  Can I just tell you that I left it sitting on my shelf for more than a month because I didn't want to read it?

And here's why I didn't want to read it.   On the one hand, I was afraid it wouldn't hold up to the original.  Writing a sequel is a tough thing to do, at least in my estimation.  Well, actually, I should say, writing a good sequel.   I was a little worried I wouldn't love Hattie as much in book two.  That Hattie might have changed in ways I wasn't prepared for.  On the other hand, I knew it was going to be so good that I didn't want it to be over too soon.  I wanted to have that experience still waiting for me.  It's kind of a weird thing I have with authors I love.  I know once I start reading that in just a few hours the experience will be finished, and then I'll be waiting again.  I don't want it to go too quickly, so I give myself time to just look at the cover and imagine what might be.

What might be in Hattie Ever After is pure brilliance.  I think I might have actually liked it more than I liked Hattie Big Sky.  The writing in both books is beautiful. But I think that Hattie as a little bit older character has even more appeal for me than she did as a younger woman.  She wasn't a little girl in the first book, but she's more mature in this one, even though she's still quite young by today's standards.  She's looking to discover herself (even at the cost, perhaps, of the relationship with her boyfriend). She's looking to start a career as a reporter, one that's really interesting, and one that requires courage and determination for a young woman at the time.  Seems like a perfect set-up for a girl like Hattie, don't you think?

Kirby Larson does an amazing job of creating a character I can see so very clearly in a town (San Francisco) I can see so very clearly, too. It's as exciting for the reader to live vicariously in San Francisco as it was for Hattie, I think. So many exciting things are happening at that time, and Hattie gets a chance to experience them. In turn, I did, too.

Books like Hattie Big Sky and Hattie Ever After are the reason I love historical fiction and I highly recommend them. Anyone else out there vote for a third book in the series???

Liar and Spy, Rebecca Stead

Earlier in the year there was a lot of buzz about this book as a possible Newbery or even Printz contender.  The author, Rebecca Stead won the Newbery for When You Reach Me a few years ago.  I didn't love that book as much as some other Newbery winners, and I hoped I'd love this book more.

I did enjoy this book, which I listened to on audio, but I don't see it as an award winner.  Which means, of course, it's likely to get some awards next week...We'll see. Actually, I can see this book getting (deservedly) a Schneider Family award or honor. I cannot see it getting the Newbery and definitely not the Printz.  (Famous last words??)

This is the story of Georges and Safer, two boys who have secrets they're trying to cope with.  As an adult reader, predicting their secrets was not very difficult.  I am curious as to whether this would be the same for younger readers. I think younger readers without a lot of life experience would definitely understand there are secrets, but what those secrets are would be more difficult to discern.

Georges has just moved to a new apartment and he meets a boy named Safer there who has a spy club. What kid wouldn't want to join a spy club, right?  I know I would have.  Makes my heart start pounding just to think of doing spy things, but it's an exciting kind of stress.  For Georges, though, it's often just a stressful kind of stress, and he only participates because he thinks Safer is in danger.

Georges also has to deal with bullying at school, a very timely topic.  As is typical with many kids, he doesn't want to trouble his parents about the issues going on at school, so things start to escalate there.  Both the bullying issues at school and Safer and Georges' relationship examine what it means to be friends and the importance of truth telling.

Perhaps my trouble with choosing award books is that I look at them with the lens of a young reader and what I think will be interesting to them. I always want the award books to be books with strong kid appeal.  I think this book's kid appeal is definitely stronger than When You Reach Me, but I just don't see it as having that last bit of oomph.  We'll see if the committee agrees.  Betsy Bird agrees with me, so that's something at least.

Death in the Floating City, Tasha Alexander

I saw this book recommended on a mystery list somewhere, and since I really like Venice and mysteries (and particularly series mysteries), I decided to give this one a try.  The story is actually the seventh in the series, and I think I might have been better off to start with number one just to get the background and then have skipped to this one, but it wasn't 100% necessary.  I just think I'd have preferred it.

Lady Emily and her husband Colin are private investigators, and in this story they've been called on to help Emma, a childhood friend of Emily's.  Friend, however, is a bit of a loose term.  Perhaps acquaintance would be more appropriate. Friend implies some sort of congenial relationship, and these two have never had that.  Nor  do they in this story, but Emma has no one else to turn to.  Emma's husband has been accused of killing his father, and he's disappeared, which does not help his case much.  Emily and her husband come to Venice to try and discover the truth

I read this mystery over the last few weeks and I have't been feeling well, and the pacing of the story was perfect for that.  Some mysteries are super intense and sort of wear a person out while reading them, but this one just moved steadily along.  Perhaps the setting in the 19th century and a woman as one of the main detectives affected that, I'm not sure.  In any case, the story is interesting, but what I really loved were the descriptions of Venice.  I've been to Venice before, and like nearly very visitor to that magnificent city, I was enchanted.  Reading a story set there let me be an armchair traveler while I read, and that was super fun.

If you like historical fiction, mysteries, and Venice, this is a sure winner.