The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen

I listened to this book on my iPod and I thought it was fantastic! It's another grown up book (I'm getting to the YA books though, I am, I promise!).

This story is by an author who wrote another book called Garden of Spells. I read that and I thought was pretty good, so when I read that she had a new book out, I decided to give it a try. This one is excellent. I was trying to decide what genre to call this, so I looked at another review and that person called it "magical realism romance." Now magic and realism don't really seem to go together, but that description does definitely seem to fit this fun novel. And although I certainly knew there were elements of magic in the story, books appearing at will, coffee pots boiling over when two people are together, a cold wind, etc., the full realization of the magic about knocked me over when it was revealed near the end of the book. Perhaps other readers might have figured it out sooner, but I was clueless. Interestingly, this other reviewer thought Allen's other book was stronger than this one, but I do not agree.

Character development is once again very strong in this book, even that of some characters who are more minor players, like bad boy Julian and the superstitious maid "Helena". Josey, the main character, still lives with her widowed mother who she is forever trying to please and forever failing. Josey's main comfort is candy, of which she has an entire closet full. Her other comfort is the mail. But it's not because of what's being delivered, it's the who in this case. Josey has fallen hard for the mailman, Adam, a man with deep secrets of his own. Then there's sleazy Della Lee who is hiding in Josey's closet full of advice, and Chloe who has books following her unbidden everywhere she goes and is in a desperate state about a break-up.

This was a great, light summer read/listen. Recommended to readers who enjoy light romance with an ability to suspend some disbelief. Available at Multnomah County Libraries.

Hunting and Gathering - Anna Gavalda

My friend Megan (who I used to TEACH in middle school and who's all grown up now!!!) loaned me this book saying it was one of her favorites. When I first started it, it was a little slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I am so glad I trusted Megan and stuck with it because this turned out to be a beautiful story that I have already recommended to some of my friends! The focus of this story was on my favorite element: character. There are four very different characters in this book, most of whom really have nothing in common. Their lives become intermingled, however, and all become, really, the saviors of the others.

The story is set mostly in modern day Paris, and features Camille, a poor, anorexic young artist; Philibert, a wealthy young man with a terrible stuttering problem and a penchant for ancient history; Franck, an angry, wild young chef who loves motorcycles and women; and Paulette, Franck's grandmother who is not well. Besides the obvious relationship between Franck and his grandmother, these four characters come together in unusual ways to live together in a grand old apartment (I believe they said it was four or five thousand square feet!!). Without each other they are all floundering, but together these quirky characters have something magical, and it was so much fun to watch it unfold.

I read a review of this book today to see what someone else thought of it, and they mentioned that it was a daunting 500+ pages. I thought that was interesting, because I would have said it was more like 200-300 pages, as it flew by for me.

This book is recommended for adults who enjoy strong character development and is available at the Multnomah County Library.

Something Borrowed - Emily Griffin

This is a grown up book that I won from Good Reads a social networking site about books. I had some struggle with this book because I found myself liking the main character very much and cheering her on even though I totally didn't agree with what she was doing. It was kind of interesting.

The main character Rachel ends up having a fling with her best friend's fiance. That is NOT ok. Usually if I don't like a character's behavior as much as I didn't like this character's, I'd immediately not like that character also. This time I felt like although her methods were awful, I felt like she and the guy, Dex, really did belong together, and that she was allowing her friend (funny, I typed fiend first - exactly the word to describe her!) to manipulate her and she should end that friendship. Should have done long ago, actually. But, she should NOT have done what she did.

It was an interesting read. Light enough so that I could read it by the pool with no problem, but with something to think about. And it did have a pink cover...

Available at the Multnomah County Library.

To be read pile - holy cow!

OK, I knew I had a lot of books on the pile for summer, but I guess I didn't realize just how many there were...Here are two pics of my (and Hummer's, I guess) TBR piles! Which ones do you think I won't read???

Are you doing your summer reading???

So far I've read three books - how about you? Need the details? Click here for everything you need to participate in WOMS Summer Reading!

Also, don't forget you can still sign up for Multnomah County's Summer Reading program. Use all the same reading for both programs and get double prizes. Plus you might win a trip to Disneyland if you do the Multnomah County program!! Just stop by any library branch to sign up if you didn't get signed up at school.

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies - Erin Dionne

Do you think I wouldn't pick up a book with chocolate cookies all over it AND written by an ERIN?!? Of course I would! And I was not disappointed.

This book is a fairly new one in the WOMS library - I bought it at the last book fair. It's the story of 13 year old Celeste, who is overweight, due in large part to her obsession with chocolate cookies. Sad to say, I can relate to that obsession which is why I NEVER, EVER buy Oreos. (Luckily, I can always count on my sister-in-law Christy to bring them to every family event. One of the many reasons I love her!)

Celeste is having some struggles at school because of her weight - other kids bully and tease her. I know this happens, but still every time I read a book that has something like this in it, I feel uncomfortable. And actually, I think that's a good thing. I hope kids have the same reaction and that it makes them think about things they say or do or watch others say/do without stopping them. The final straw for Celeste is when her aunt submits her application for the Miss Husky Peach modeling contest. It's enough that Celeste is bigger than most girls, but does she need to parade around about it? She's thinking NO WAY, NU-UH, NEVER!

But she can't summon up the courage to say no, and even when she does try to say no her mother isn't listening. So she goes along for the ride, thinking she'll just sabotage her chances instead of telling her mom no. One of her means of sabotage is actually trying to make more healthy choices about eating using her eating journal (yeah, health teachers!)so she can lose twenty pounds.

This novel has a lot of issues wrapped in it that teens are dealing with. Crushes, self-esteem, appearance, friends, bullying...and although it's an ambitious pile of issues, Ms. Dionne does a great job pulling it all together. I think I'm gong to suggest this one to our mother-daughter book club. Lots to talk about!

If you'd like to read more about this author, click here.

Available at the WOMS library and the Multnomah County Library.

The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls

This was an incredible memoir which I listened to on my iPod over the last week or so. (It kept me awake on a solo drive to Bend!) Jeanette Walls is a very successful reporter working in New York now, which is a great, but not terribly amazing. But reading this story and finding out about her path to get there makes it and incredibly amazing fact.

Jeanette Walls grew up poor like most of us have never personally encountered. Often the places she live were dilapidated and sometimes even downright dangerous. For much of her life she had no indoor plumbing, sometimes having to go out and dig a hole in the hillside to go to the bathroom. She was often hungry. One story she relates is of a time when she and her sister ate a stick of butter for dinner because that was the only food in the house. Many days she dug through the garbage cans in the lunchroom or bathroom at school to find something to eat. She often went without a warm coat or shoes that fit. IT is an existence I cannot even imagine.

The relationship she had with her parents is also something I can never imagine. Her parents were certainly not caretakers of their children (she has three siblings). Even though they could have worked to support their family, buy them food, clothes, mattresses, they chose not to. Her father actually did work sometimes, but he was an alcoholic, and this would often lead to him losing his job, so his income was not steady. And generally he drank away whatever he did earn, so it wasn't that helpful anyway... Her mother worked very infrequently as a teacher, but basically felt that her children should be able to take are of themselves. She had her own things to worry about.

And yet, in spite of all these obstacles in her way, Jeanette Walls made it! It's an incredible story. What is also incredible is that she's not bitter or blaming - things I am nearly sure I would be if I were in her position.

As a teacher I think this was a really good book for me to read, because although I hope my students are not in such extreme situations as Jeanette was, I am sure I'd be surprised, and I want to keep this in mind. I expect kid to come to school ready to learn, but what if they come to school just hoping to get some food out of the garbage can. How can I expect them to be ready to learn? And how can I make a difference for them? I want to think about this. As a librarian I want to keep this story in mind as well, because Jeanette and her family found a lot of refuge in the library and books, and I want my library to be that kind of place. A place where kids who need a refuge, who need resources, can get them, whenever they need them.

I read an interesting interview with her here, which gives some different perspective on issues that I was thinking about as I read. I think reading this book has made me think more about others, and any book that does that deserves a recommendation from me. This one definitely does for high school readers and up.

Available at the Multnomah County Library.

Report for Murder - Val McDermid

An author friend of mine, Chelsea Cain, who writes AMAZING murder mysteries (for grown-ups) suggested this author as one of her favorites at a recent book reading I attended, so I thought I'd check her out. It was nothing like Chelsea's work, much more slow going and mellow, but I liked it a lot. It's set in England with a Scottish reporter as a writer who turns into a detective when someone is murdered at the all girls boarding school where she's gone to do a story on their fundraising efforts. There were not many grisly moments in this novel, nor many that were too scary, but there was certainly tension that kept things moving.

I'll definitely be reading more of this author's work.

Contest announcement for Sarah Dessen fans

Want to win a copy of Sarah Dessen's newest novel, Along for the Ride? I know I do, which is why I entered the contest over at Susane Colasanti's blog. If you'd like to win, all you have to do is go to her blog and make a comment about which of Sarah's books is your fave and why. Pretty easy, hey? Here's the link! Enjoy!

Poetry Friday - "Sonnet 43"

My husband and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary next week, so for the last poetry Friday of the school year, I give you (and him), this most beautiful love poem. Happy anniversary, my love!



How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

2 books with so many similarities

Rules for Hearts - Sara Ryan
Sweethearts - Sara Zarr

OK - SO many strange coincidences between these two books that I somehow started reading at the same time.

1) Both have HEARTS in their names
2) Both have authors name Sara (and neither have an H)
3) Both have long lost boys who've been "found"
4) Both have female main characters with things in their pasts they haven't shared with many (or even any) people
5) Both the boys disappear for periods of time in the novel and no one knows where they are adding a layer of mystery to the present in addition to the past.

Both of these books are a bit heavy, not typical "pink" books, surely, but both are very well done and were interesting stories. The stories, incidentally, go in very different directions despite their similarities. I just found the coincidences so interesting, especially since I was reading both at the same time.

Lulu in Marrakech - Diane Johnson

I found this title on a recommended list and I listened to this book on my iPod. I have to say I was sorely disappointed. The plot didn't move along much, the main character wasn't very like-able, and the conclusion was non-existent. It didn't even seem like one of those stories where there's going to be a sequel so they just drop you off on the side of the road. It just ended. Very disappointing and highly NOT recommended.

Not Anything - Carmen Rodrigues

No picture available for this one, sorry.

I really enjoyed this book! It's sad and sweet and a nice addition to our Hispanic literature collection.

16 year old Susie lost her mother several years ago, and now it's just she and her dad living in Miami and they don't really communicate very well. And for Susie, keeping herself insulated from most people (and the pain she might face if she loses them too) is working just fine. Or so she thinks.

When her English teacher Mr Murphy asks her to tutor Danny Diaz, Susie isn't very interested in the job. He keeps after her though, and finally convinces her to take on the case. But when Danny begins to break open the hard shell she's carefully constructed, will Susie be able to let him in?

This is a bittersweet coming of age compounded by the death of a parent, again something I've not had to deal with. It has some of the same themes as What Girls Learn by Karin Cook and Define Normal by Julie Ann Peters.

All three of these books are available in our library.

Something Maybe, Elizabeth Scott

Hannah is a smart girl, but she's making dumb boy choices. WHY do girls so often do this? They get wowed by the super hottie, and the super sweetie, the much better choice, obviously, gets left standing in the rain. It does make for a good story, however, which is what you have here. Throw in a mom with an, um unconventional job, a dad who's a famous star but doesn't have time for his daughter unless he wants something, and you've really got the fixin's for some action.

Of course Hannah would prefer that no one even know she HAS parents (as is the case for most adolescents I think, but really, really so much worse for Hannah). She does everything she can to keep them under wraps, but when your dad's famous this can be tricky. Especially when he tricks you. I felt bad for Hannah because she just wanted her dad to love her for her, and it seemed like that was just too much for him. I so cannot even imagine this kind of situation because my own experience was so far opposite of this.

Pick up this story at the public library to determine whether Hannah eventually sees the error of her ways with the boys or not.

Sophomore Switch - Abby McDonald

I received this book in my mailbox one day from the book elf. Whoever you are, publisher, publicist, author, real elf...thanks so much!

Tasha (American girl) and Emily (British girl) are both looking to escape. Tasha made a huge mistake at a party and now there's a video all over the Internet with her on it - and it is NOT flattering. Emily's boyfriend has dumped her and her parents are very high pressure people. What better way to avoid your problems than moving to another country for a college exchange program? Well, maybe these girls could think of about 100 ways now that they're living each otehr's lives, but it's too late.

Wild child Tasha feels stifled and way over her head academically at Oxford. Strait-laced Emily thinks the academics are a blow off and all the people are shallow at UC Santa Barbara. Neither one has really made any friends. This exchange isn't really working out to be all that they'd hoped for. Finally, in desperation, they start e-mailing one another for tips to survive, even they don't even like each other (based on what they know of each other, that is). This turns out to be quite helpful in helping each one to fit into her environment, but in the end, is it really a good idea?

If you want to find out, this book will be available soon at the Multnoamh County Library and the BHS library (it's a better choice for the high school library, and I'll be sending it up there).

I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks again, book elf!

Sweet Life - Mia King

This is an adult book that I saw on another author's blog. When she talked about it, it reminded me of another book I read recently (The Last Time I Was Me), so I checked it out from the Multnomah County Public Library. It was a nice, easy read, with great character development and enough of an unknown to keep me really interested.

The premise of this story is that a family has moved to Hawaii from New York on the spur of the moment, and instead of the paradise they've expected to find, the couple finds their marriage disintegrating. He moves out, and she stays in the (moneypit of a) house they've bought. Their young daughter stays with the mother. In order to cover expenses, Marissa (the wife) must take boarders in to their home, a prospect which she finds a bit frightening. The results of this bold move, however, turn out to be exactly what she needs and the friendships she forms sustain in her during a time when she is floundering as she's never done before.

Throughout the story, there is a possibility that the two will reunite, but the possibility that they will not is just as likely. This is what really kept me reading. I don't find too many authors who can develop the tension in such an unpredictable way outside of mystery authors.

A lovely book that I definitely recommend for a summer read.

Julia's Chocolates - Cathy Lamb

This is a book by the same author who wrote The Last Time I was Me which I really enjoyed. Both of these are adult books. I did not like this book quite as much as the first, however. IT took me too long to get into the story, and also the woman was fleeing a relationship with a man who abused her, and it is difficult for me to read about these things.

I also did not agree with some of the choices this woman made. I could kind of understand where she was coming from, but it was so clear that she was doing the wrong thing, I had a hard time being sympathetic.

There were some things I really did love about this novel, however. One was the library where she worked, and where she befriended two young children who were clearly in need of a friend. Unfortunately, I think there are lots of kids who are not getting the care they need from home, and I am happy that some of them can find solace in libraries (but I'd rather they didn't have to!). I also loved some of the crazy characters in this story, and the powerful relationship she had with her aunt who she's come to live with. And the yummy chocolate references, as always, made me salivate!

If you have to choose to read only one Cathy Lamb book, I'd choose The Last Time I was Me, but this one is also good.

My Life in Pink and Green - Lisa Greenwald

Lucy's mother and grandmother own and run a local pharmacy. But now's not the best time for a small, local business like that, and the business is failing. Lucy, however, is sure she can come up with a plan to save the business. Enter pink and green. See Lucy has some skills in the "pink", meaning girly, area. She's really good at doing hair and make-up, and tehy just happen to sell that stuff in the pharmacy. She's also really good at coming up with clever "green" marketing ideas, which of course are always popular.

Put the two ideas together with the persistence of a bulldog (Lucy) and you know that while the pharmacy might not make it in the end, it will at least have a fighting chance.

I really enjoyed this book by a member of the Class of 2K9.

Being Nikki - Meg Cabot

Time to catch up on my blogging. I get super busy with school stuff at the end of the year, so I have been neglecting my blogging. well no more! Today is the day I vow to catch up. hang on to your hats, kiddies, cuz here we go!

I am a HUGE Meg Cabot fan, but I have to say I didn't adore Airhead, the first book in this series as much as I have loved most of Meg's other books. I liked it, though, and I was definitely sucked in enough to want to know what happened next, so you can imagine how excited I was when Meg Cabot said on her blog that if you wanted a review copy, all you had to do was ask. How nice was that? But then she sent it a few weeks before the actual release date and said if we read it early we weren't allowed to blog about it until the official release date! That was kind of brutal. Of course I could have written it and scheduled the post to appear, but I wasn't organized enough. Obviously, since I'm just getting to it now!

Can I tell you that this book was WAAAAY better than the original? Because it was WAAAAY better than the original! That's pretty unusual, I think, for a second book to be better than the first in a series. My theory about this one, though, is that I had to have some time to come to terms with what had happened to Nikki, and it took me a whole book to get to the place where could handle it. Se what happened in book 1 was that Emerson Watts, an average looking but pretty smart girl died, and so did Nikki, a supermodel with shall we say less than the sharpest smarts...But really, only Nikki's brain dies and only Emerson's body died, and then the doctors did a whole body-brain transplant thing. See why it was a little hard for me to believe. I mean, come on. But I guess we might be getting to the point where it could happen. Well, maybe not anytime immediately or anything, but not that far from now. Maybe.

So anyway, Em didn't know any of Nikki's friends or how to be a supermodel or anything, and she didn't really WANT to, either. But she's had no choice. In this installment, Being Nikki, I'd come to terms with the whole transplant thing, so I could just go with it, and it was a pretty exciting story. I do admit I wanted pop Meg Cabot one, though, at the end of the novel. How could she just leave us hanging like that?? WAY unfair!

Recommended.

2 pink books - not too good :(

I have been on kind of a bad streak with the books I've been listening to on my iPod lately, which is very disappointing. (Currently, however, I've got one that's better, thank goodness!).

These were more books I got from a suggestions list. I think it was "If you liked Bridget Jones's Diary then you'll like these". I really did like that book, but I guess it must have had something these didnt' These two books weren't terrible, and both had some funny parts, especially Altar Egos, but overall, they just weren't that great.

The titles were

Man Eater by Gigi Lavangie Grazer and Altar Egos by Cathy Lette.

These books are ok beach fare, but not on the top of my recommended list.

Poetry Friday - "At the Library"

I can hardly wait for the long days of summer when I can lounge away my whole day reading - by the pool, on the back deck, sprawled on the living room couch...you get the idea. And of course I'll be heading to the library to get a lot of my reading materials and to participate in the Multnomah County Library's Summer Reading program (they have one for grown-ups, too!)

At the Library

It’s fun to look
for a special book
And then to sit
And look at it.
You turn the pages one by one
Until your special book is done
And then --
                    go find another one.

                  - Sharon Siegelman

The Man Who Walked Between the towers - Mordicai Gerstein

This is a children's book which won the Caldecott a few years ago. I picked it up after watching the movie Man on Wire which is a documentary of Philippe Petit's 1974 literal walk across a wire that was strung between the Twin Towers in New York City. The movie was fascinating. This guy is a crazy man. But a crazy man with the best balance of anyone I have ever seen. It was amazing.

The book is a children's book, so the story itself is fairly simple, but the drawings are outstanding. It has some pages that are foldouts, so the drawing is three pages long. It's really cool.

A very interesting story about a man who had an idea and followed it through, no matter the obstacles.

Wings - Aprilynne Banks

Mrs. Frisk invited me to go to the Supernatural Summer author visit at Barnes and Noble with her the other day, and Aprilynne Pike was one of the four authors speaking. It was a fun event, but it was kind of strange for me to hear four authors speak when I'd only read one of their books, this one.

This is a fairy (or faerie in this book) story, and you know fantasy is generally not my genre, but my general rule is that as long as there are more real people parts than fantasy parts, I'll give it a go. Such was the case with Wings, a story which I really enjoyed.

Fifteen year old Laurel is in her first year in public school, and she's pretty nervous about how things will go. Luckily, she meets some nice kids right off (not sure how realistic that is), including David. David's a super smarty in science, and it turns out Laurel really needs him as a friend because not too far into the book she begins blooming. For real. As in a giant flower is sprouting from the middle of her back. She has no idea what to do, but she decides, of all things, to tell David about it. Not her parents, but a boy she barely knows. Again, not too sure how realistic this is.

David, being the science guy that he is does a little investigating. And you know what he discovers? He discovers that Laurel, who is named after a plant, eats only vegetables and fruits and drinks only Sprite, is not actually a girl. she's actually a PLANT. Right down to the square cells and the clear "blood" and the lack of a heartbeat. Wow! that's kind of different...

There's a whole second layer of the story as well having to do with some property Laurel's family owns that's very important to the faerie world as well as a fairy who's got some romantic interest in Laurel and who, consequently, is not a big fan of David.

Although there were parts of the story that were not too realistic, the whole faerie thing notwithstanding, I found myself enjoying this story and looking forward to the sequel. I've ordered this book for the library so it will be available at WOMS in the fall.

Band Geek Love - Josie Bloss

This book started off strong, and band geeks will probably love it, but I have to say, the main character's voice while strong, got to be a little bit annoying. Even I, who read a lot of YA lit and am usually immune to the whims of adolescent angst overwhelming me found myself getting pretty tired of her.

Ellie Snow has been waiting for YEARS to be a senior in the marching band and finally her time has arrived! Unfortunately, not everything is going to plan. Namely one Connor Higgins. Adorably cute, a good trumpet player, and a SOPHOMORE. Ellie, who had a very bad social snafu when she was a freshman is determined not to let this guy ruffle her feathers. Which of course means he does at every turn. But how can she, senior star, go out with a sophomore?? So what if he's sweet, kind, cute, a great trumpeter? He's a sophomore.

I found Ellie's character to be too shallow for my liking, although I am sure there are girls out there like her. I just don't want there to be. She treats Connor abysmally, and I think she makes girls look bad. I hate that.

The book does have plenty of funny moments and I'm sure band kids will get even more of the inside stuff than I did. There is some bad language in the book which is true to life but not really necessary.

An ok read, but not highly recommended.

Mrs. Yingling is having an Atherton giveaway!

My friend Ms. Yingling, a librarian in Ohio, is having a book giveaway and you can win a set of all three Atherton books! It's easy to enter - just go to this link and tell her what your fave sci-fi series is and why. If you're lucky, you'll get picked!

Good luck!

Sister Wife - Shelley Hrdlitschka

Before I knew anything about this story, I was completely drawn to its cover. Perhaps it was the hands intertwined, perhaps the delicate lawn gown, perhaps the stark simplicity. I don't know. What I do know know is that the cover is a bit haunting, although I wonder now if it's because I know the story behind it.

Hrdlitchka's novel is the story of a polygamist sect in Utah. Polygamy means men having more than one wife. And in this particular sect, oftentimes the wives are very young. Fifteen is generally the age they are told who they've been assigned to as a wife. Normally the man is much, much older than they are.

Celeste, one of three main characters in this story, is about to turn fifteen, and is quite conflicted about obedience to this tenet of her family's religion. She has feelings for another boy, and she doesn't want to marry some old man. At the same time, she feels bad about questioning her religion. She is made to feel even worse about that by her younger sister who really wants to get married and have babies and cannot understand WHAT her sister can be thinking. The third main character is Taviana, a girl who grew up outside the sect but whose been taken in by Celeste's family from a life on the streets. Taviana appreciates the security of the life she's come to know in Unity, but she still doesn't quite fit in.

I thought this was a fascinating story, but it made me incredibly angry with people who choose to do this to their children. I'm not all for polygamy, by any stretch, but if it were only consenting adults, that would be one thing. To force children to marry grown adults with no other option, to me seems very, very wrong. The age difference alone is appalling. I have a really hard time with this concept.

This book brings up many more issues than just polygamy, however, and it is a great book which will make readers think about all kinds of issues. Recommended for mature 8th graders and up.

Poetry Friday - "Baseball"

Baseball

The game of baseball is the king
Of all the games we play
And it is one pursuit that is
Distinctly U.S.A.
The people swarm into the stands
To watch their favorite teams
And munch their hot dogs when their lungs
Are not engaged in screams
The pitcher hurls the horsehide and
The batter gets a hit
Or else the ball goes sailing and
Some fielder smothers it
A clever runner steals a base
A player takes a walk
Or managers and umpires
Decide to have a talk
The crowd is gay or gloomy or
Completely in suspense
But it goes wild when someone knocks
The ball beyond the fence.

by James J. Metcalfe ©

6th Grade Entry - The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief        
By; Rick Riordan
published by; Miramax Books  354 pages

* In the Lightning Thief Percy's father Poseidon has been framed. Zeus belives he's stolen his master lightning bolt. So now Percy and his two friends have to go on a magical quest to the under world. Because they need to return the lightning bolt to Zeus. But they need to return it in time befor the summer solctice in order to clear Possiedon's and Percy's names.
*Percy is a young boy with ADHD and is dislezic. Who seems to always get into all knids of trouble.
*I really liked the Lightning thief Every since the beging of the book it held my attention. I'm also learing about the greek gods in school. It was really cool to think of the greek gods in a different way.
*I would recommend this book to anyone that love's funny books.    

Summited By,   
                                Juliana W.

6th grade entry - Diary of a Wimpy Kid

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Jeff Kinney
Amulet Books, 217 p.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid is about a middle school kid named Greg. He is just a normal kid that has a exiting little brother and an older jerk face brother.
Any ways that is not the point the point is that he says that he gets to sit by girls that he likes but they don’t like him back. My perspective of Greg is a geek who has a geek friend who embarrasses him all the time. All his little brother dose is sit on his portapottie on front of the TV and eat cereal and what ever he does not it he dumps it in the plastic toilet and Greg has to clean it up.
One of the main characters is Greg he is funny. He tries to listens to his older brothers music after his mom says NO.
3things I liked best about the book was that there where some great characters. His dad is so funny. The last thing is cheese.
I think my big brother would love reading this book because he is just like Greg’s big bro.


Submitted by Nassin A

6th grade entry - Eclipse

Eclipse
Stephanie Meyer
Little brown and Company 629 p.

Bella Swan moved to Washington to live with her dad, Charlie. She moved to a new school also and finds an incredible looking guy named Edward. They fall in love and become boyfriend and girlfriend but she finds out that he’s a vampire and they things get bad.
When Bella goes into her room to get an outfit for her graduation party her cloths are missing. She thinks it’s Edward’s sister, Alice but she says she never went in her room. They soon discover, by her best friend who is a werewolf, Jacob, which someone or something came into her room to steal her cloths to get the scent. They don’t know who it is and why they are doing it. The story continues as a wild adventure.

The main character in this story is Bella Swan. She is a goofy, funny, beautiful girl who is in love with Edward Cullen. He is a Handsome, funny, talented boy who happens to be a vampire. She sometimes gets in very bad situations like riding a motorcycle when she’s not supposed to. She sometimes acts like her father, Charlie who divorced with her mom a long time ago; she’s witty, independent, nice, and strong just like her father.
I like this book because it’s really adventurous and the author makes you visualize the setting so well you think you’re in a dream. I can visualize the fights between Edward and Jacob really well as if they are really happening.

I recommend this book to everyone, boys and girls, because it’s exciting, funny, and once you read it you will want to read it again. This is an awesome book for a person who loves vampires! Once you read the first one you will want to read more of Stephanie Meyer’s books!


Submitted by Alex Q.

6th Grade entry - No Talking

NO Talking
By: Andrew Clements

The book No Talking ,is about a boy named Dave Dave is a sixth grader that has brown hair and loves to talk a lot! There is also a girl named Lynsey and she is a sixth grader too and she is the queen of the blabber mouth she can just go on and on about one subject and she also has brown hair. Lynsey thinks boys talk more and Dave thinks girls talk more . Dave and Lynsey are not best friends at all!
Dave once read in a book about Ghani that he went for a whole day and when he was not talking brought order to his mind, so that is where Dave got the idea of not talking.
So they have a competition seeing if girls talk more or boys. All the teachers liked the peace and quiet, but after a while they got tired of it and they told the kids that they could say three words at a time or don’t even come to school only if the teacher asked a question they could say three words, because they would not even talk . If the teachers asked for example, what is 4+16 and they would have to say, “answer is 20” or else that team would loose. The teachers tried so hard to make the students talk more than three words so they started to ask harder questions. So the competition would be over and the students would talk normal. The competition went for a long time. What I liked about this book is 1st Andrew Cements is one of my favorite authors 2nd the book had a lot of details and 3rd it was a funny book. I think this book was a 2 out of 5 because it was a little easy to read but, I think a lot of people would enjoy this book because it is a really funny book. The book has 197 pages I think.

Sumitted by :Tai P.

6th grade entry - The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963
Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Inc.
210 p

In the funny story the Watsons go to Birmingham, 10-year-old boy named Kenny lives in Flint, Michigan with his mom dad, brother, Byron, and little sister Joetta. When their parents decide its time to go visit Kenny’s Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama, there are lots of things to get done before going. At school, Kenny is one of those kids who gets beat up and teased a-lot. Lots of things happen to him before going on the trip. One thing that happens to him is when he really wants a friend, a saver from God, he gets one. This saver is a kid that will end up getting teased too.

Now, it may seem to you that Byron and Joey seem like nice kids, but only one of them is. Joey is a girl a –lot like her mom, but not much like Kenny. She really doesn’t get teased so much. Byron is different. At school, Byron is the God of the elementary school. So he can beat up any kid when he wants to. Joey gets along pretty good with Kenny, but not Byron. He is really the main boy (god) that can beat up Kenny.

When the family finally goes to the trip, they discover three things, (well, really Kenny does). Kenny discovers that it’s like living in the sun. Then, he meats Winnie’s the Pooh’s evil twin brother Wool Pooh. After that, Joey almost gets killed in her church during Sunday school because two white men threw a bomb in during services. Finally, they go back home to their icebox in Flint, Michigan.

I really liked this book because it’s so hilarious in many ways. I also liked the way the author wrote the book as if Kenny was telling the story himself. My favorite part was when Byron got caught lighting matches, and almost got his fingers burnt.

I recommend this book for anyone that loves to read funny and adventure stories.


Submitted by Jocelyne H.

6th grade entry - Valentine's Resolve

Valentine's Resolve
E.E.Knight
New American Library, a division of Penguin Group, p. 323

My book is about a character named David valentine the story takes place in the feauture in the year 2075 he travels from Iowa to Missouri the story is about aliens who invade the earth David is a specialized person who is supposed to fight them off.

David travels from place to place trying to kill ware wolf and vampires around the world he has special weapons that he uses.

I like the book because it has a lot of action in it so I thought it was really interesting that he fights of all these vicious creatures.

I think anybody would enjoy this book as much as I did because it’s a really cool and it has a lot of action.

By BrennanM

6th grade entry - The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine
Dan Gutman
Danny Dun
146 Pages

Sam (the cool kid) finds out that Brenton (the nerd) made a homework machine. The homework machine does your homework for you. Of course the others at the table found out. Judy (the goody goody) thought it was a bad idea. Kelsey (the bad girl) didn’t really care. So Sam wanted to see the homework machine. Brenton invited the three over to his house. Once the four started hanging out together everyone started to get suspicious.
One of the four main characters is Sam Dawkins. People call Sam Snik or Snikwad because it is his last name spelt backwards. Snick is a cool kid in the beginning of the book and he would have never thought about hanging with someone like Brenton. But when he does ha starts to become a nerd.
What I liked best about the book was it takes place in a police station and them telling the story. It makes me think something exciting, weird, or funny is going to happen. The book made me curious.
People who I think would like to read this book are people who are funny and humorous.

Submitted by Shelby.H.

A Girl's Best Friend - Kristin Billerbeck

Blogger won't let me upload a picture. Sorry.

I just went to get the picture of this book and I noticed that the publishing house is called Integrity Publishers. HA! I would highly have to disagree with that name. The editor of this book should be fired because this book should never have been published without some major re-writing. See here's the deal. This book, which I picked up at the Multnomah County used book sale ( a whole bag of books for SIX dollars. Amazing bargain!) is in the adult Christian lit genre. And really, if a book is well written, I'll read Christian lit, Hindu lit, Jewish lit, whatever. I don't have a problem with a book that has religious values in it.

What I do have a problem with is a book that just throws a bunch of religious stuff into the story randomly when it doesn't relate to the story and, as in the case with this book, may even make the reader stop and go, wait a minute. What the heck is this doing here? There shouldn't BE parts in a book that make a reader do that. The characters in this book were supposedly trying to do a better job of living their Christian values. Great idea. And that's what the author kept trying to convince you of by throwing in some stuff about church or singles group or random Bible verses. But then she never went on to have her characters either (a) actually start doing the things they talked about or (b) own up to the fact that they weren't living up to their ideals. She just had them go on their merry way and acted like she'd never even mentioned those things.

I think this would actually have been an ok story if they'd just left the Christian aspect out. Seemed like they (author, editor, publisher???) were just trying to get into a niche market by plastering the book with platitudes, not because the story was better with this angle added.

I'm tempted (no pun intended) to read another of her books to see if maybe this was a fluke and a mistake, but then again, life's too short to waste on bad books, so maybe not.

Poetry Friday - "A National Moment of Remembrance On Memorial Day"

A National Moment of Remembrance On Memorial Day

That poem about where “poppies blow”
And, “the crosses, row on row”
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.

We still have Dead, “amid the guns”
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, “short days ago”
Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”.

In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red”
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe”
And still die for Freedoms that we know.

They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high”
And not, “break the faith with us who die”
For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow”
Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row”
In Flanders Fields.

Del “Abe” Jones
4-25-2005

Alphabet of Dreams - Susan Fletcher

This month's Mother Daughter Book Club choice was any book by local author Susan Fletcher. And we are all really excited because she's COMING to our book club meeting today. We're so lucky to have had two local authors willing to come visit with us this year!

I chose to re-read Alphabet of Dreams, which I think is her very best book, and that's saying something, because all her books are good! She's written Walk Across the Sea, the Dragon's Milk trilogy, Shadow Spinner (my second fave of hers), and this book that is built around the dreams of young Babak.

Babak and his sister Mitra's family have been exiled and now these two, the youngest children in the family, have been separated from everyone else. Once they lived as royalty; now they are forced into living in the shadows and stealing to get by. It's not a fabulous life, an Mitra, especially, wants a change. The possibility becomes real when it is discovered that little Babak can foretell the future through dreams. This "talent" is worth quite a lot to many people, including the powerful Melchior, one of the Three Wise Men of the New Testament story.

Fletcher creates her own vision of how the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem for the birth of Christ might have happened. The story is told all from the point of view of Mitra, and is woven together through incredibly lyrical language and strong character development.

Excellent author's notes at the end of the book help the reader to understand that while this does have historical elements to it, it is a work of fiction. It also details the origins and beliefs of Zoroastrianism which I found to be very helpful. the first time I "read" this book, I actually listened to it on tape, and although I LOVED the reading o it by that particular narrator, I wish the author notes would also have been included.

A fantastic story and an Oregon Battle of the Books pick for this year. Available at the WOMS library.

TheHistory of Love - Nicole Krauss

This was my grown up book club book this month, and I really did not enjoy it. I felt kind of lost through most of the story. It was told from a lot of different points of view, and even when I was listening and there were different voices, it felt really jumpy to me. It did all wind together at the end, but even then the conclusion was pretty ambiguous. As I've said before, I don't mind thinking when I'm reading a book, but I don't want to be confused by the storyline. That's hat happened to me here. My only consolation is that it's what happened to my friend as well.

The one thing I really did like about this book was the lyricism of some of the writing. There were passages I just wanted to write down because they were so beautiful. Unfortunately, they were overshadowed for me by the disjointedness of the story.

I'll be interested to see what the rest of the group thinks. I wanted to like it, I really did, but I just couldn't.

My Sarah Dessen contest entry

Thought you might like to see the entry I did for Sarah Dessen's recent contest. It was a contest where you had to photograph something in your neighborhood that reminded you of something in one of her books, then caption it with text from the book. I picked The a quote from The Truth About Forever. where Macy is talking with her ex-boyfriend about Wes's yard art. Really, if you haven't read this book of hers, you're definitely missing out. Mine didn't win, but I still had fun. If you want to see the winners, check them out here.

Bollywood Babes - Narinder Dhami

I read another book about these three crazy sisters earlier in the year (actually, I think I listened to it) and there are a few things I really like about these books. I really like how the girls are actually like real sisters. They're bratty and fight sometimes, and then they're best friends and comrades at other times. Having grown up with a sister myself, I know it's true. Luckily once you're older, it's mostly friends :)! Another thing I really like is that these girls live a pretty regular life. They're average girls. Also, while they like boys, there are no complicated relationships between girls and boys in these books. this s a good thing because while some readers really enjoy romance, not everyone does, and it's nice to have some titles to recommend which don't. And of course, I love that the main characters are Indian, although I wonder how Indian people feel about the portrayal of Indians in this book. Is it accurate or stereotypical? An interesting question that I don't know the answer to. If you do, let me know.

This storyline revolves around the girls trying to raise money for their school by bringing a formerly famous Bollywood star to their school fete. However, when the washed-up has-been actress they find moves in with them, they begin to reconsider their decision. And they begin to do some serious finger pointing! It is not a pretty picture for the girls, but it's humorous for the reader.

I enjoyed this book more than the first, actually, which doesn't happen that often, so that was a nice find. Available at the Multnomah County Library.

Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

This is my second favorite Sarah Dessen book, and she was having a contest I wanted to enter recently, so I re-read Just Listen. It's the third time I've read it, and each time I read it I like it better and better . I can hardly wait until Along for the Ride comes out in June.

Annabelle and Owen are the main characters in this novel, both of whom are complex characters with secrets they rarely share. Both of them are also loners, and at lunch they sort of end up being loners together. And then they end up being friends.

Owen is obsessed with music. Owen is also completely honest. Always. Even if you don't want to hear it. Anabelle is definitely neither of these. In fact, Anabelle couldn't really care about music (except in the car wash) and if there's any chance anyone might get hurt, she'll go to great lengths not to tell the truth. This is the main reason she's all alone now - she won't tell the truth.

There are all kinds of family dynamics going on in this story, including divorce and an eating disorder, that affect the characters as well, and it is all perfectly woven together. Another fantastic contribution to YA lit by the amazing Sarah Dessen.

Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneger

This was my book club's book last month and it's one of my favorite books of all time. Again, not for a middle school library, but a fantastic premise. The husband in the story, Henry, is a time traveler. He travels back and forth in time. He doesn't generally know when it's going to happen or where he'll end up, and it can be a frightening experience. Claire, his wife, meets him for the first time when he time travels to her house when she's a very little girl, I think 8 years old or maybe even six. It's his story, and her story and their story and the story of time travel all woven together and it is incredible. Older high school students and grown ups who like science fiction and romance should give this one a try.

I Love You, Beth Cooper - Larry Doyle

This book, while completely inappropriate for a middle school library, is really quite hilarious. I'm not sure where I saw it, but something I read about it made me think it would be good, and I was not wrong. I haven't laughed out loud so much since I read John Green's Paper Towns. The main character in this story, class valedictorian and consummate nerd, decides to go for broke and announces to the orld during his speech at graduation that he loves Beth Cooper, most popular girl, head cheerleader, basically a girl who'd never be in love with him. Any yet, somehow that night, they end up partying together (along with one of his friends and two of hers) and running for their lives from her Marine boyfriend. The things they do are way beyond belief, and when this comes out in a movie pretty soon here, I think it might be completely stupid, but in a book, it was really very funny.

The one thing I never figured out was whether this book was adapted from a screenplay into a novel or whether the novel was adapted into a screenplay. If you know, give me a shout.

Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite grown up mystery authors. She has a funny, spunky character named Stephanie Plum who's a bounty hunter. If someone doesn't show up for their court date, Stephanie has to go after them. She's kind of a klutz and always ends up in crazy situations. Kind of like how I'd imagine I might be if I were a bounty hunter. But Evanovich generally makes the situations funny, so they stories aren't too stressful to read. This was a "Between the Numbers" book. Most of the series have a number in their title. This was a pretty typical one, but I thought it was a little more sinister than usual. Still, I enjoyed it, and fans of the series will not want to miss it.

Poetry Friday - A Riddle Poem

A riddle poem indirectly describes a person, place, thing or idea. the reader must try to figure out the subject of the riddle. A riddle poem can be any length and usually rhymes.

Can you figure out the answer to this riddle?


The beginning of eternity
The end of time and space,
The beginning of every end,
The end of every place.

~anonymous


scroll down for the answer....











The letter E

Just One Wish - Janette Rallison

This was a fairy tale come true story, well mostly, and I, predictably, really liked it. Annika's little brother Jeremy has a brain tumor, and he has to have surgery pretty soon. Annika thinks that she'll be able to help him survive that scary experience and his cancer by granting him a special wish, courtesy of her genie. She's SURE he's going to wish for a Robin Hood action figure. In fact, she's so sure that she fights a guy for one in the toy store. Imagine her surprise when he wishes for the "real" Robin Hood (an actor)! But it's what he wants, so what's a girl to do? ROAD TRIP!

Though the events that ensue in her quest to convince Robin Hood are pretty far-fetched, if you let yourself believe, it's a really fun story. Annika gets herself into some pretty crazy situations, and the archery scene is awesome. Girls RULE!

The story is a bit predictable, but with a very thoughtful ending and a great portrayal of siblings. There's a little romance (who wouldn't want to date Robin Hood, after all?), a little serious side, a lot of funny stuff. Something for nearly everyone. Recommended.

Available at the Multnomah County Library.

Poetry Friday - "Spring Rain" by Buson

In the rains of spring
An umbrella and raincoat
Pass by, conversing.
~Buson

Poetry Friday - "Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face"

Jack Prelutsky is another perennial favorite poet of kids, and so this week, I give you this funny, goofy poem. Gives one something to think about, doesn't it?



Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face
by Jack Prelutsky

Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place,
for if it were where it is not,
you might dislike your nose a lot.

Imagine if your precious nose
were sandwiched in between your toes,
that clearly would not be a treat,
for you'd be forced to smell your feet.

Your nose would be a source of dread
were it attached atop your head,
it soon would drive you to despair,
forever tickled by your hair.

Within your ear, your nose would be
an absolute catastrophe,
for when you were obliged to sneeze,
your brain would rattle from the breeze.

Your nose, instead, through thick and thin,
remains between your eyes and chin,
not pasted on some other place--
be glad your nose is on your face!

Poem in Your Pocket Day was SO FUN!

Today's Poem in Your Pocket Day activity was totally and completely awesome and fun. I LOVED to listen to students read me the poems they had in their pockets - some they got from other authors and some they wrote themselves. One student even wrote his own song and sang it. I also loved seeing all the staff members who were in on the act - listening to poems and giving out PAWS. It was a fantastic community building activity and I had an amazing day because of it.

Thanks to everyone who participated for making this such a fabulous place to be the librarian!

City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau

I read this book a long, long time ago - when it first came out even, if you can believe that. And my husband actually went on to read the whole rest of the series! I really liked the premise of this book, so I was pleased that our mother-daughter book club took this on as our choice for April. We've done such a wide variety of genres in our book club. It's been really great. And this book provided a lot of really great discussion material which was awesome.

We talked about things like how the earth today has many environmental and social issues and what sort of problems could have led to the building of the City of Ember. We talked about who might have built Ember and when does the story happens. Clearly, the city of Ember was built when people were worried that the human race might not survive. We wondered if this was a good plan and what about it was good/not so good. What job would we have been wanted to be assigned? Did Lina and Doon get the right things assigned to them? How did everyone there get along so well we wondered? And that mayor! The mayor is the most corrupt character in the novel. He squelches the thirst for knowledge and limits freedom, yet the majority of the townspeople just accept his behavior. Why did they act this way? How could they? How could Lina take Poppy and put her in such danger? Would we have done the same thing if she were our sister? What if she were your daughter, I asked the moms. They'd ALL have taken her.

This is a very interesting furturistic sci-fi book - although now that I say that, they're totally lacking on the science, which is kind of where their problem stems from...so I wonder what genrre this is classified in. I'll have to look this up. Anyway, whatever genre it is, I really liked it and thought it was great for discussion. I'm eager to see the movie now!

Braless in Wonderland - Debbie Reed Fischer

The title of this book makes it sound WAY more racy than it is, and it has me wondering why the editor, publisher, author, whomever felt the need to name this book in this way. Not to mention the GIANT font for the word Braless on the cover. Clearly sexy sells, just watch television for fifteen minutes, but can authors and publishers of quality books not just sell them based on the fact that they are actually writing quality? And doesn't using this sort of gimmick cheapen the whole endeavor?

I actually thought this was a good story with a main character who tries to remain true to her values and admits that some of the ways she's approached life might not be as great as she thought they were. I also think that a story about a regular girl who suddenly becomes a supermodel is going to appeal to a lot of girls. But I probably also will not buy it for my library simply because of the title. I think that's too bad.

If you're a librarian or an author I'd like to hear what you think of this issue.

Something, Maybe - Elizabeth Scott

This was a sweet little romance that's endorsed by Sarah Dessen, so of course I had to read it. It was in some ways super predictable and then in other ways a complete surprise. A nice combo.

Hannah is the queen of invisibility. She's built a wall around herself to protect her. See, her family's a little bit, well, unusual, and kids have made fun of her in the past for this. There are only a handful of other kids she even talks to - one girl at school, but just a little, one girl from her neighborhood, and two boys at work - Josh and Finn. Josh is ultra handsome and Hannah's sure he's her soul mate, so she tries as hard as she can to be what she thinks he wants. Finn just seems like a regular guy to her, but everyone with half a brain can see that he's the much better choice. Thoughtful, funny, kind. And even Hannah notices he's kinda cute.

Seems like an awful lot of girls do choose boys for the wrong reasons and set them up to be things they're not. Why DO we do that, anyway? Will Hannah figure out she's going for the wrong guy? What would it take to make her see?

Add all her family issues to the mix and you have a great plot in addition to the romance.

Recommended. Available at the Multnomah County Library.

Poetry Friday - End of April

Can you believe it's already the end of April. It's our last Friday in April!

End of April
Phillis Levin


Under a cherry tree
I found a robin’s egg,
broken, but not shattered.

I had been thinking of you,
and was kneeling in the grass
among fallen blossoms

when I saw it: a blue scrap,
a delicate toy, as light
as confetti

It didn’t seem real,
but nature will do such things
from time to time.

I looked inside:
it was glistening, hollow,
a perfect shell

except for the missing crown,
which made it possible
to look inside.

What had been there
is gone now
and lives in my heart

where, periodically,
it opens up its wings,
tearing me apart.



from The Afterimage, 1996
Copper Beech Press, Providence, RI

Copyright 1996 by Phillis Levin.

6th Grade Entry - The Bad Beginning

6th graders at WOMS were invited to write blog posts on books they've recently read. this is Jake's entry. Thanks, Jake.

A Series of Unfortunate Events
*The Bad Beginning*
Lemony Snicket
HarperCollins Publishers, 162 p.


The three Baudelaire children Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have the best life a child could imagine. The Baudelaire children have everything they could ever wish for: an enormous mansion and wonderful, caring parents. However their lives are changed forever, when Mr. Poe brings the children some terrible news. He tells the children that their mansion has burned down and their parents along with it. The children race back to the house only to find it ruins. Now they have no parents, nowhere to live and no close relatives to live with. The only choice they have is that they’ll have to go live at their busiest relative, Count Olaf. When the “orphans” arrive at Count Olaf’s, they think they’d be better off living at their burned down house. Count Olaf’s house is filthy with broken windows, chipped paint and eyes…everywhere from the door, to the walls, to the furniture. Count Olaf welcome’s them nicely but as soon as Mr. Poe leaves, Count Olaf treats them poorly and unfairly. He makes them do chores like fixing the windows and making him and his theater troupe dinner and only gives them one bed to sleep on so one of them sleeps on the bed while one of them sleeps on the floor. None of them get any sleep and they have to deal with Count Olaf 24/7. The real reason why Count Olaf treats the “orphans” with so little respect is that he is after their ENORMOUS fortune. The children must think fast if they want to stop Count Olaf from taking their fortune and worse. Their right to live.

Violet is the sort of person that likes to invent things. Klaus should know. Whenever she ties up her hair in a ribbon to keep it out of her eyes, you know she’s thinking hard. When she is older, she wants to invent things that can help people with their daily problems and make their lives easier.

Klaus, the middle child, loves to read books. Back when their parents were alive and their house was still up, the Baudelaires had an ENORMOUS library. Klaus would sit in the library almost every hour of the day, and whatever he read, he remembered.

Sunny, the youngest, had a completely different interest. She enjoys biting things with her four sharp teeth. She also had a whole other made-up vocabulary. Like when she says “Gook” she probably means “This tastes funny”

What I really liked about this book is that the author used strong vocabulary. I also admired the descriptions. Not only about the characters, but the multiple settings. I also liked how the author wasn’t afraid to write one sad thing after another. This book was extremely unpleasant, but it was well written.

This book was definitely sad and I definitely recommend this book to people who don’t mind reading so unfortunate and so sad. You might want to be a reader like that or else you would want to put the book down and find something happier to read if that’s your style.


Submitted by,

Jake N.