tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91339534073293215532024-03-13T12:08:50.494-07:00BookendsCindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-20621213506544869372009-01-22T19:12:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:34:03.514-08:00We're moving!Bookends is moving! We are are now the Youth blog for Booklist Online. You can find us at: <a href="http://bookends.booklistonline.com">http://bookends.booklistonline.com/</a>. We hope you will bookmark our new address and visit us regularly at Booklist. You can also reach us from the main page of <a href="http://booklistonline.com">Booklist Online</a>. Our banner logo will soon be added here, but in the meantime you can hit the Blogs link at the top of the page and access Bookends there. No subscription is necessary to access the blogs or the content on the main landing pages- so we hope you will follow us to our new digs and keep on reading and commenting.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-19620191350656180842009-01-16T05:17:00.000-08:002009-01-16T10:02:21.803-08:00Top Five Nonfiction 2008Choosing our top ten titles this year (<a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2009/01/lynns-2008-bakers-dozen.html">Lynn's list</a> / <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2009/01/cindys-bakers-dozen-2008.html">Cindy's list</a>) was so hard. Even when I cheated and added an extra title many of our favorite books were still left out. So we decided to list our top five nonfiction titles too. These are chosen for their outstanding quality and are listed alphabetically by author. We’d love to hear what nonfiction books are your favorites!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Top Five Nonfiction 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleischman, Sid. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West</span>. (HarperCollins/Greenwillow)</span><br />This fascinating look at Twain’s western years is delightful and packed with quotes from Twain. You won’t be able to resist reading large chunks of this to anyone nearby.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleming, Candace. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary</span>. (Random House) </span><br />In my Top Ten of the year, this inviting book is the perfect blend of impeccable research, interesting design and fascinating writing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freedman, Russell. <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington at Valley Forge</span>. (Holiday House)</span><br />We all know Valley Forge was important but Freedman helps us really understand how and why. I couldn’t put this book down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nelson, Scott Reynolds. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ain’t Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry</span>. (National Geographic)</span><br />The librarian in me loves the beautifully explained research process but what I love best is the way this fascinating book reads like a mystery.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stone, Tanya Lee. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/12/sandys-circus-story-about-alexander.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sandy’s Circus: A Book about Alexander Calder</span></a>. (Penguin/Viking)</span><br />This playful book perfectly captures Calder’s joyous spirit. If only all biographies could be so much fun!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy: Top Five Nonfiction 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleischman, Sid. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West</span> (HarperCollins/Greenwillow)</span><br />In a perfect melding of author and subject, Fleischman’s writing is as spirited and sarcastic Twain’s, and this is just as entertaining as his previous Houdini biography.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bishop, Nic. <span style="font-style: italic;">Frogs</span> (Scholastic)</span><br />This book could easily be on my top picture book list as the photographs are so incredible and are integrated with the text beautifully. Fascinating frog information, attentive graphic design, and stunning photography combine for a remarkable read.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greenberg, Jan. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2009/01/christo-and-jeanne-claude-through-gates.html">Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond</a> </span>(Roaring Brook)</span><br />A book that makes me long to witness their art in person. Beautiful bookmaking, too!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nelson, Scott Reynolds. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/10/aint-nothing-but-man-my-quest-to-find.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry</span></a> (National Geographic)</span><br />A treat of a read that shows just how rewarding, mysterious and how much fun research can be. This is the kind of book that makes a librarian’s heart go pitter-pat!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stone, Tanya Lee. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/12/sandys-circus-story-about-alexander.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sandy’s Circus: A Story about Alexander Calder</span></a> (Penguin/Viking)</span><br />Another book that could have been on my favorite picture book list, but I didn’t want to ignore the wonderful storytelling that illuminates Calder’s childhood and fits so well with the gorgeous artwork. If you need a graduation gift for an artistic student, this is it.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-25666445866399800292009-01-14T05:24:00.000-08:002009-01-16T06:17:15.688-08:00Lynn's 2008 Baker's DozenWhy 13 titles? Everyone makes a top ten, and besides, Cindy and I can’t possibly narrow our favorites down that far, so we're giving you a Baker’s Dozen of 2008 favorites. Mine are here and Cindy's are in a separate post. Our first ten are selected on literary merit alone and are in alphabetic order by author. The extra three titles are some of our other favorites of the year, thrown in for free. Let us know what YOUR favorites are!<br /><br />This was SO hard! Stay tuned for our Top Five Nonfiction and Top Five Picture Books coming soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn's 2008 Baker's Dozen</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anderson, M.T. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/10/astonishing-life-of-octavian-nothing.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: Kingdom on the Waves</span></a> (Candlewick)</span><br />Brilliant sequel to an equally brilliant first book. Challenging, thought provoking, emotional, memorable, searing – there just aren’t enough adjectives to describe how much I admire this book.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dowd, Siobhan. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/11/bog-child-by-siobhan-dowd-random.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bog Child</span></a>. (Random/David Fickling)</span><br />Dowd weaves multiple plot threads effortlessly in this beautifully crafted book.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleming, Candace. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary</span>. (Random)</span><br />The inviting scrapbook format is perfect for either browsing or immersion in the staggering amount of fascinating information about the time, the Civil War, the important issues as well as presenting admirably complete biographies of both the Lincolns.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gaiman, Neil. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2009/01/graveyard-book-by-neil-gaiman.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Graveyard Book</span></a>. (HarperCollins)</span><br />Sweet despite real scariness, Gaiman’s story telling skills shine in this highly original tale.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Horvath, Polly. <span style="font-style: italic;"> My One Hundred Adventures</span>. (Random House/Schwartz & Wade)</span><br />Horvath’s luminous writing perfectly captures those first itchy feelings of adolescence.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lanagan, Margo. <span style="font-style: italic;">Tender Morsels</span> (Random House/Knopf)</span><br />Lanagan is one of the most original stylists writing today but this book also shines in other categories: extraordinary world-building, thematic depth and vibrant characters as well as fascinating play with fairy tale elements.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lockhart, E. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks</span> (Hyperion)</span><br />Smart, funny and an oh-so-subtle exploration of gender/power struggles. Frankie is a terrific character!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pratchett, Terry. <span style="font-style: italic;">Nation </span>(HarperCollins)</span><br />I think this is Pratchett’s best ever. The humor and word play is still joyously present but this amazing book also features a remarkable setting, richly developed characters and beautifully explored themes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tharp, Tim. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Spectacular Now</span>. (Random House)</span><br />Probably one of the best character studies I have ever read! Sutter will stay with me forever.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">White, Ruth. <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Audrey</span>. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Smith, Hope Anita. <span style="font-style: italic;">Keeping the Night Watch</span>. (Henry Holt)</span><br />I know this is cheating but I simply cannot chose between these two gorgeously written little gems. (It certainly <span style="font-style: italic;">IS</span> cheating, but I'll let you get away with it since I loved them both too!--Cindy)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn's three extras:</span><br />This was the year of fabulous page-turners and these three were pure pleasure for me to read!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cashore, Kristin. <span style="font-style: italic;">Graceling</span>. (Harcourt)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Collins, Suzanne. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/10/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hunger Games</span></a>. (Scholastic)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goodman, Alison. <span style="font-style: italic;">Eon: Dragoneye Reborn</span>. (Penguin)</span>Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-15599229715928378252009-01-13T11:49:00.000-08:002009-01-16T05:57:14.989-08:00Cindy’s 2008 Baker’s DozenWhy 13 titles? Everyone makes a top ten, and besides, Lynn and I can’t possibly narrow our favorites down that far, so we're giving you a Baker’s Dozen of 2008 favorites. Mine are here and Lynn's are in a separate post. Our first ten are selected on literary merit alone and are in alphabetic order by author. The extra three titles are some of our other favorites of the year, thrown in for free. Let us know what YOUR favorites are!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cindy's 2008 Baker's Dozen</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anderson, M. T. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/10/astonishing-life-of-octavian-nothing.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Octavian Nothing: Traitor to a Nation: Vol. II: Kingdom on the Waves</span></a>. (Candlewick)</span><br />Different than <span style="font-style: italic;">Pox Party</span>, but with equally excellent storytelling, this sequel brilliantly concludes a duet that is destined to become a classic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Collins, Suzanne. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/10/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hunger Games</span></a>. (Scholastic)</span><br />A rip-roaring adventure with important themes to consider.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dowd. Sioban. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2008/11/bog-child-by-siobhan-dowd-random.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bog Child</span></a>. (Random House/David Fickling)</span><br />More proof that we lost this talented author too soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gaiman, Neil. <a href="http://mibookends.blogspot.com/2009/01/graveyard-book-by-neil-gaiman.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Graveyard Book</span></a>. (Harper Collins)</span><br />Exquisite storytelling that tells a creepy story but also illuminates the journey that prepares you to leave the safety of “home” to seek your fortune.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green, John. <span style="font-style: italic;">Paper Towns</span>. (Penguin/Dutton)</span><br />Are you a string, a blade of grass or a vessel? Quite possibly John’s best book yet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lanagan, Margo. <span style="font-style: italic;">Tender Morsels</span>. (Random House/Knopf)</span><br />I just started this one, but am so sure that it will make my top ten, I’m putting it there now. I’ll own up if I change my mind after I finish.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lockhart, E. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks</span>. (Hyperion)</span><br />In a year full of fun female characters, Frankie is tops. This is a breakout book for Lockhart.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pratchett, Terry. <span style="font-style: italic;">Nation</span>. (Harper Collins)</span><br />If Jonathan Hunt admires a survival story, you know it is something special. This is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scott, Elizabeth. <span style="font-style: italic;">Living Dead Girl</span>. (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)</span><br />Painful to read, but a haunting and searingly honest story that won’t be forgotten.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">White, Ruth. <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Audrey</span>. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)</span><br />I hadn’t read this until after I saw it on <span style="font-style: italic;">Booklist’s</span> Top of the List Editor’s Choice list. It quickly moved firmly into a place on my list too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cindy's extra three:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doctorow, Cory. <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Brother</span>. (Tor)</span><br />I’m now a hacker librarian with my R3AD license plate, thanks to “w1n5t0n.” Loved the technology usage in this and the cautions about privacy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ness, Patrick. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Knife of Never Letting Go</span>. (Candlewick)</span><br />Evil, pure evil…to leave a reader hanging so precipitously waiting for the sequel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scieszka, Jon. <span style="font-style: italic;">Knucklehead</span>. (Penguin/Viking)</span><br />Everyone who reads this shares a funny childhood story with me. It doesn’t get any better than that.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-14330971803313130332009-01-12T08:06:00.000-08:002009-01-12T09:49:21.332-08:00Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing) by Alison McGhee (Scholastic, 2008)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWtrWYh9SZI/AAAAAAAAAM0/4fwBFp4-JTU/s1600-h/24697239.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWtrWYh9SZI/AAAAAAAAAM0/4fwBFp4-JTU/s200/24697239.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290440219562953106" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> 9-year-old Julia Gillian is good at so many things that she keeps a two-sided list of her accomplishments. These include making papier-mâché masks, understanding her dog Bigfoot and being skilled at the Art of Knowing. But even a masterful 9-year-old has a fear or two. Julia’s include finishing the green book when the ending is so clearly going to be sad. The dog in the story is only a year older than Bigfoot and Julia doesn’t like to even think about that. It hasn’t been a very fun summer either. Her teacher parents are taking classes and study all day, the claw machine is still unmastered and there have hardly been any picnics or trips to the water park. But as the summer wanes, Julia discovers that everyone has fears and learns to understand what her neighbor Enzo means when she says, “the only way out is through.” <br /><br />I fell in love with the endearing and independent soul that is Julia Gillian right on the first page. The humor and whimsical drawings create a warm tone but don’t underestimate this book. Julia is a wonderfully rounded character full of traits that can be found in children everywhere. Alison McGhee is as observant as her protagonist and she deftly explores the issue of fears, acknowledging their very real power in the life of a child. Julia searches for answers but in the end she understands that conquering her fears is something she must do herself. McGhee’s respect and affection for young readers is clear and they will both appreciate the sensible message and smile at the satisfying ending – strawberry bubble tea and all. I’m really eager to see what happens in the next book in this new series, Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) which will be published in April.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-76094007706579399562009-01-08T08:50:00.001-08:002009-01-08T11:05:32.477-08:00The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2008)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWYvDvRQ01I/AAAAAAAAAMs/dYRDYiXZM8E/s1600-h/27731829.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWYvDvRQ01I/AAAAAAAAAMs/dYRDYiXZM8E/s200/27731829.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288966553668211538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> An assassin, the Man Jack, murders three members of a sleeping family as the true target, a little boy, climbs out of his crib and toddles up the hill to the graveyard eluding the killer. A ghostly couple shields the child and then decides to raise him, naming him Nobody Owens because he looks like nobody but himself. It takes a graveyard to raise this child and Bod is the adored pet of the spectral residents whose living years spanned the centuries. As Bod begins to push at the restrictions of childhood, he once again comes to the attention of the mysterious group who seek his death.<br /><br />Gaiman’s storytelling abilities shine here as he riffs on Jungle Book, nursery rhymes, and vampire lore in a truly unique coming of age story. Humor lightens the somewhat melancholy tone of the book that perfectly matches the memorable characters - living and dead. The ghouls are totally awesome too! For audio book fans, the audio of this book is wonderful with Gaiman doing the narration.<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> I've been following the debate on the <a href="http://www.adbooks.org/">Adbooks listserv</a> about whether this is a teen book or not. Bod is young, but the story starts out with the murder of his family and ultimately, the story leads up to Bod's preparation to set out on his own "to seek his fortune" and see the world without the aid of the ghouls who have raised him. The gorgeous writing and the successful construction of each chapter that can be read as a stand alone short story creates a novel that can be enjoyed by 4th grade through adult. After coming to that conclusion I visited Gaiman's website to see if there was something I could link to for fun, and found a blog entry of Gaiman's with <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/02/at-end-of-book.html">his opinion</a> about the audience for the book. It's always a pleasure to know that Neil has your back....Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-13493203730832434132009-01-06T13:35:00.000-08:002009-01-06T14:21:53.920-08:00Savvy by Ingrid Law (Penguin, 2008)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWPXUn4eWpI/AAAAAAAAAMk/e8DnXI27ssQ/s1600-h/28955287.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: undefinedpx; height: undefinedpx;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWPXUn4eWpI/AAAAAAAAAMk/e8DnXI27ssQ/s200/28955287.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288307136766302866" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> Turning thirteen is a big milestone for most people but in the Beaumont family it is truly life changing. Thirteen is when the Beaumont savvy appears. Each person’s savvy is different. There is Fish who causes hurricanes, Rocket who generates electricity and Great Aunt Jules who time-travels every time she sneezes. Mississippi (Mibs) thinks she knows what her savvy is and it couldn’t be more important. Mibs’ father lies in a coma in the hospital after a car accident and Mibs is sure her savvy is to wake things up. Somehow she has to travel the ninety miles to Salina to help Poppa. It seems like such a good idea to sneak aboard the pink bible bus but nothing is ever simple when it comes to the Beaumonts!<br /><br />I have a great weakness for books with quirky characters and Law’s delightful cast is that in spades - and endearing as well. Debut author Law manages her imaginative confection with a sure hand, utilizing folksy dialog deftly and steering clear of the easy ending. Mibs’ fresh voice will go straight to the hearts of teens who share her struggle to navigate adolescence. I admit to reaching for a tissue at the conclusion and wishing we all could have a savvy of our own. I can’t wait to see what Ingrid Law does next!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-38019107336387254212009-01-04T14:53:00.000-08:002009-01-05T07:52:22.209-08:00Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan (Roaring Brook, 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWE97_Mf3jI/AAAAAAAAAMc/eN33SxmU2aY/s1600-h/Christo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SWE97_Mf3jI/AAAAAAAAAMc/eN33SxmU2aY/s200/Christo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287575538295103026" border="0"></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> I made my first trek through Central Park just six months prior to the Gates installation and longed to return to see the saffron banners waving against the black trees and white snow. What a treat that must have been for the local folks to see their park transformed for a few short weeks. For those of us who missed it in person, this fabulous book by art biographers Greenberg and Jordan will more than do. The husband and wife team of <a href="http://www.christojeanneclaude.net">Christo and Jeanne-Claude</a> (born on the same day and year in separate countries) are the epitome of perseverance, working decades to get the necessary permission for their imaginative and original public art created on a truly grand scale. The book design is perfect, many photographs letting the art speak for itself as its creators do, and a fold-out spread helps to show the magnitude of the installations. As much as I would love a piece of that saffron fabric, I love the care the artists put into preserving the environments they are creating in, and recycling their materials as opposed to crass commericialization. Always controversial artists, you can put me in the fan column. I may have missed the Gates, but I'm sorely tempted to plan a family vacation to raft the <a href="http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/otr.shtml">Arkansas in Colorado</a> in 2012 under the silvery fabric panels. Want to join me?<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> When Cindy first wanted to find this book I was lukewarm. I knew it was Greenberg and Jordan whose books I really admire but I admit to not knowing much about Christo and Jeanne-Claude. I had a sort of vague negative impression gained from often scornful commentators and grainy newspaper photographs. Boy was I wrong! This book knocked my socks off and opened my eyes to these amazing artists. The stunning cover leads into a series of beautiful photographs that capture the amazing scale and impact of the art. The accompanying text is fascinating and conveys both the philosophy behind the art and the artists’ admirable perseverance and attention to detail. I had no idea that the artists fund their own work nor was I aware that they recycled all project materials. If this book has been in your maybe file, move it up to must buy! It is gorgeous, inspiring - and mind-changing.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-30488321455119383772008-12-31T12:02:00.000-08:002009-01-01T05:39:04.665-08:00The Belly Book by Joe Harris (Beginner Books, 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVvQSxqOrmI/AAAAAAAAAMU/XM80bP_Py9k/s1600-h/Belly+book.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVvQSxqOrmI/AAAAAAAAAMU/XM80bP_Py9k/s200/Belly+book.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286047608636092002" border="0"></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> While many readers are making their New Year's resolutions and thinking about how much they overate during the holidays, we thought it was the perfect time to share this delightful beginner reader book. There are a few thin bellies in the book, but most are useful as shelves or shelter <span style="font-style: italic;">because </span>of their large size. One belly is so grand it doesn't even fit on the double page spread. And, the text cautions, "...bellies aren't great / when you can't read your weight." The book ends with wise counsel to attempt to eat more healthily...but first I have to finish the incredible chocolate gifts sent by friends! I resolve to do better...tomorrow.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> “High belly, low belly…stinker belly, Tinkerbelly.” Harris’ funny book about the many kinds and uses of bellies will have beginning readers laughing out loud. Well-chosen vocabulary and bouncy rhymes team up with colorful funny pictures to make this a book kids will want to read over and over. There is a message at the end about what we should be putting in our bellies but it is easy to swallow. I have only one complaint – Harris forgot the most important use of a belly – to hold up a book!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-22587845614848532572008-12-27T04:58:00.000-08:002008-12-27T06:39:26.685-08:00Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (TOR 2008)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVYn3EsgQ2I/AAAAAAAAAMM/CxbciHkYv2Q/s1600-h/25723846.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVYn3EsgQ2I/AAAAAAAAAMM/CxbciHkYv2Q/s200/25723846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284455039872549730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> I have strong feelings about the science fiction written for teens. I won’t go into that now but someday soon I will rant at length. I am feeling quite mellow right now because I just read an outstanding book that is guaranteed to win over even the most dubious. It does everything good science fiction should do. It is smart and extremely entertaining, pursuing thought-provoking themes that in this case are quintessentially adolescent AND universal. While providing lots of action and suspense, a great strength of this book is the richly developed characterizations. Terrific dialog and awesome aliens round out a book that is perfect to hand to anyone 12 and up, boys and girls, science fiction fans and newbies. Meet seventeen-year-old Zoë, smart, sassy, obsessed with her new boyfriend and rarely separated from her sarcastic best friend, Gretchen. She is also rarely separated from her two alien bodyguards who record her every experience for their home planet. Zoë’s foster parents are leaders of a new colony on the planet Roanoke. The colonists are struggling to establish farms and homes when they discover they are pawns in a gigantic galactic chess game. <span style="font-style: italic;">Zoë’s Tale</span> is the fourth book in Scalzi’s outstanding<span style="font-style: italic;"> Old Man’s War</span> series and it is a parallel novel to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost Colony</span>. Don’t panic! <span style="font-style: italic;">Zoë’s Tale</span> stands alone quite nicely with ample background information seamlessly provided. I guarantee that most readers will immediately search out the first three books so be prepared to provide those too. In an author’s note, Scalzi says, “I despaired how I would ever actually get a writing tone approximating that of an actual teenage girl…” Well, he did and Zoë is a memorable character. This is one of those gateway books we librarians are always looking for that will open doors to new genres for readers. Buy this book for your teen collections NOW!<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> I'm on deadline for some reviews and can't read this right now, but Lynn has me hooked. Most of the sf I've read has been the stuff she has sent my way and this sounds like a winner.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-34609216190533901042008-12-24T16:11:00.000-08:002008-12-25T05:36:58.266-08:00Happy Holidays!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVLQHr_uk7I/AAAAAAAAAME/fxZhXcnwH_Q/s1600-h/CIMG5047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 192px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SVLQHr_uk7I/AAAAAAAAAME/fxZhXcnwH_Q/s200/CIMG5047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283514143346693042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> Lynn and I found ourselves sitting on Santa's lap this afternoon while taking her grandsons and my teen daughters for a visit. We asked him to bring us lots of good new books to keep our blog full for you in 2009. We also got an early gift: an invitation from Booklist Online to host our Bookends Blog. We can't wait to join their great line up of bloggers. Watch for news here soon of our move. Happy Holidays to all of our Bookends readers!<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> Happy holidays from my end of the bookshelf too! It is dark and quiet as I write this but crazy excitement will soon reign when the five-year-olds hit the house. Before that happens, I want to send my best wishes to everyone and to say thank you. When we began Bookends it was mostly to amuse ourselves. We have been astonished and so grateful for its reception. It is truly an amazing world when two ordinary librarians can have such fun and get such wonderful feedback. Thank you for reading and responding! I am grateful beyond words for the fellowship of the book world. May your holidays bring you joy and strength for the New Year! Don't forget to check on us at Bookends. Cindy and I are already scheming for the coming year.<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy: </span>It just dawned on me...we are Santa Bookends too! :)Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-83822612429222490112008-12-22T06:44:00.001-08:002008-12-22T06:47:06.097-08:00Sandy's Circus: A Story about Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrations by Boris Kulilov (Penguin/Viking, 2008)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUvStxfrxJI/AAAAAAAAALs/IXxilCVyCC4/s1600-h/28005786.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUvStxfrxJI/AAAAAAAAALs/IXxilCVyCC4/s200/28005786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281546671844213906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> This exuberant picture book biography focuses on Calder’s early years and perfectly captures the love of life reflected in his art. Playful illustrations convey a sense of whimsy and delight as well as Calder’s attention to intricate detail. Especially effective are pages that show huge hands working with the tiny pieces of wire, bringing his delightful circus to life, and the pages showing a giant Calder carrying his suitcases striding over the cities. This wonderful book is sure to ignite the imaginations of budding artists and engineers of all ages! Anyone who reads this book will come away smiling. Check out <a href="http://www.nga.gov/education/classroom/counting_on_art/popups/calder.mov">this clip</a> of Calder in his later years demonstrating the circus.<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> I really, really, love this book. Ok, I know we don't let our BBYA teens get away with such lameness, so I'll expand, but first, did I tell you that I really <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">LOVE</span> this book? This is a picture book that older teens and adults will enjoy as much as young children, maybe more. Stone's solid storytelling is perfectly accompanied by colorful illustrations that exemplify Calder's palate. I was familiar with Calder's mobiles, but didn't know that he had INVENTED the form. And, I'd love for Santa to leave a miniature circus animal in my stocking! There's a great story here, too, about how our childhood experiences influence who we become, and in the importance of following our dreams and interests. I just bought this book for my daughter who is planning to study math and statistics in college next year but really wants to major in art. I think this would be a great gift for many graduates as they close their suitcases, click, click, click, and head off to pursue their dreams. I really <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">LOVE</span> this book.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-14429419007239598552008-12-19T16:23:00.000-08:002008-12-20T05:42:16.251-08:00Gran, You've Got Mail by Jo Hoestlandt (Delacorte, 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUw7ObcfMVI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Hw3AJJT_TC4/s1600-h/Gran+You%27ve+Got+Mail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUw7ObcfMVI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Hw3AJJT_TC4/s200/Gran+You%27ve+Got+Mail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281661582070198610" border="0"></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> "Dear Gran, Hooray! Vacation! Just in time too, because I was fed up with school." (How many of us can relate to that line today?) Annabelle is typing and printing out letters to mail to her great grandmother to meet her father's demands to improve her keyboarding skills and, most days, Gran is happy to write back.There's honesty in the letter writing that these two share--neither of the age to worry much about offending. Annabelle dates one letter, "I don't know what day it is and I really don't care." In another letter Gran responds to her granddaughter's incredulous inquiry that she doesn't have a dishwasher: "I don't have a dishwasher simply because I like to dip my hands in water."<br /><br />I exchanged letters for years with a post-office working, retired English teacher grandmother, who was a master at the art. This book made me long to open the mailbox to one of her letters with its new supply of commemorative stamps to keep my letters coming in return. Both grand and granddaughter have challenges they are dealing with (Annabelle a fight with her best friend and Gran a fight for her health) but the tender friendship that builds between them as they shore each other up is the real story.<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> This is a sweet story, simple and direct, and the translation works well. I was surprised when I read that the movie Annabelle and her friends were seeing was Titanic as the book doesn’t have a dated feel. The growing relationship between the two builds nicely and the affection between them is touching and genuine without getting sappy. The title misleads a bit – kids may expect email – but once they start reading they might be inspired to try snail mail themselves. I didn’t love this as much as Cindy did but even a curmudgeon like me will find it a pleasant and worthwhile read.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-7665114688221848552008-12-16T07:03:00.000-08:002008-12-18T05:38:35.080-08:00Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (Scholastic Point, 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUfDatWxudI/AAAAAAAAALk/8zpXyZKZRG0/s1600-h/Suite+Scarlett.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUfDatWxudI/AAAAAAAAALk/8zpXyZKZRG0/s200/Suite+Scarlett.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280403951734340050" border="0"></a><font style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy</font>: Given the choice, I would read <a href="http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/index1.html">Maureen Johnson</a> (or books like hers) every week. This one could be a musical, with Auntie Mame come to town in the form of drama diva Amy Amberson. Following family tradition, Scarlett's 15th birthday gift is the key to a suite in their struggling Manhattan hotel with the charge to keep it clean. They rarely have guests anymore, but<font style="font-style: italic;"> lucky</font> her, Mrs. Amberson has landed on their doorstep, and in Scarlett's suite, and things get interesting. The aging actress spends as much time orchestrating Scarlett's life and problems as she does directing Scarlett as her chambermaid and personal assistant. Like any good musical there's a romance with communication problems, a Show-That-Must-Go-On (this one her brother's Hamlet production originally staged in a parking garage before it finds a new home) and other plot points, but just spending time with Scarlett and Mrs. Amberson in the quirky hotel kept me entertained. Here's hoping there's a sequel: Encore!<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> Maureen Johnson rocks! Scarlett is looking at a summer of changing sheets and convincing the temperamental toilets to run in the family hotel. Then the alarming Mrs. Amberson, an aging and wealthy actress books for the whole summer and drafts Scarlett as her assistant. Mrs. Amberson is an unstoppable force and when you add a parking garage production of Hamlet, a gorgeous actor in the company whose kisses weaken Scarlett's knees, sibling career crises and a 30-year-old feud, you have a recipe for chaos that is laugh-out-loud funny. Johnson is really on her game here with a cast of quirky memorable characters, terrific dialog and intriguing relationships. I especially admire the nuanced portrayal of Marlene, Scarlett’s little sister who has survived cancer. I want to stay in this hotel - aging plumbing and all.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-21429351945413605742008-12-15T04:58:00.000-08:002008-12-15T05:50:25.844-08:00Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank Cammuso (Scholastic, 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUZUgxU63YI/AAAAAAAAALc/ibTbQ9MKqpw/s1600-h/Dodgeball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUZUgxU63YI/AAAAAAAAALc/ibTbQ9MKqpw/s200/Dodgeball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280000535112113538" border="0"></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span><o:smarttagtype style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Cammuso takes the classic middle school nightmare (what if I can’t open my locker?) and gives it a heroic spin. Arte King is the new kid at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Camelot</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Middle School</st1:placetype></st1:city> and after a rocky start becomes the first kid able to open a special locker that has been sealed for years. Book one of the graphic novel series <span style="font-style: italic;">Knights of the Lunch Table</span> features lots of fun stabs at the King Arthur legend while staying focused on the real fears and challenges that face middle school boys. Merlin is a young, bald African American science teacher with a goatee and pierced ear, the three lunch ladies recite the school menu in rhyme around a cauldron to predict the future, and Gwen saves the day in the big dodgeball tournament. I hope we see much more of her in the sequels. Cammuso’s brilliant illustrations and his cheeky storytelling make a magical combination. <br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> This engaging book is perfectly designed to attract middle school readers with its big panels and bright colors. It will also hold their attention with story elements such as tarantulas, besting bullies, and being the new kid in school. The clever riffs on the Arthur legend are the icing on the cake. Kids familiar with the story will pick out funny and affectionate details yet kids who don't know the story won't be lost. Boys and girls will find this a royal read.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-83595608252222024262008-12-12T05:22:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:45:12.336-08:00Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus (Harcourt, 2008)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUJlzRLmZYI/AAAAAAAAALU/ISRpvOTc8A4/s1600-h/23659191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SUJlzRLmZYI/AAAAAAAAALU/ISRpvOTc8A4/s200/23659191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278893644691432834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> Deep in the goop of a long-ago swamp<br />A whopping big dinosaur went for a stomp.<br /><br />In the footprint puddle, Tadpole Rex swims and grows, accompanied by the floops and fleeps of emerging arms and legs. Tadpole Rex’s inner tyrannosaur grows biggest of all though and he challenges the world with a roar of “ribbet” - much to the delight of the five-year-old reviewers in my house. I think this is their favorite picture book of the year - and it may be mine too. We love the vivid pallet of browns, greens and yellows of the bloopy swamp, the frog-eye level perspectives and the inventive page design. The text is delightful and perfect for reading aloud – which we do over and over again. Nicely incorporated science information rounds out a book ideal for the tadpoles in your life.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> This book makes me miss my public library days as it just <span style="font-style: italic;">NEEDS</span> to be presented in a story hour setting to fully appreciate the illustrations from a distance as well as from a lap--and the rhyming, bouncing, text is perfect for read-alouds. I'm thankful for publishers who include art detail information. Some of the illustrations look like woodcuts (a favorite form of mine) but the end matter says this was created on <a href="http://www.scratchboard.org/russhowto/index.html">scratchboard</a> and then digitally colored. We originally planned to focus this blog on middle and teen readers, but we're addicted to picture books, too, so books for all ages will be included. I think we all have an inner tyrannosaur--just one more reason to ROAR about this brilliant book.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-27546762232180342772008-12-09T04:10:00.000-08:002008-12-09T12:44:23.424-08:00House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones (HarperCollins/Greenwillow, 2008)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/ST5mRkCsG1I/AAAAAAAAALM/aepBHw5P0Vc/s1600-h/27783141.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/ST5mRkCsG1I/AAAAAAAAALM/aepBHw5P0Vc/s200/27783141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277768265243564882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> Full disclosure! Not only would I read ANYTHING Diana Wynne Jones writes but I would read it multiple times. This wonderful new book has all the things I most love about Jones’ writing: eccentric characters, charming humor, magical chaos and that warm sense that we are all in on the fun. Sophie, Howl and Calcifer return for an encore appearance when Sophie is asked to assist in the search for a missing Elfgift and Howl can’t resist crashing the party disguised as a lisping little boy. You’d think other characters wouldn't stand a chance with that trio but Charmain, a spoiled bored teen, holds her own very nicely. Charmain has been raised to be respectable which means that she has no practical skills at all. When she is whisked away by her disapproving aunt to take care of her ill great-uncle’s house, Charmain is horrified to discover that there is no time to read her books! Add the mystifying peculiarities of the wizard’s house, an inept apprentice, an annoying dog, a royal mystery and a really shivery villain and you have Diana Wynne Jones at her best. Charmain wants nothing more than to be left along to read when life gets bothersome and I admit to sharing that yearning. So go ahead and ignore those holiday chores - House of Many Ways is the perfect antidote to seasonal craziness!<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cindy:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Howl's Moving Castle</span> is one of my favorite DWJ titles, but readers can start here just fine and go back to the companion novels<span style="font-style: italic;"> Howl</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Castle in the Air</span> later. I read this title early last spring but still remember the piles of dishes that Charmain faced, the mysteries of the magical house, the organization of her uncle's library, and all the madcap energy of a signature Jones title. I FELT her frustration as she kept getting sidelined from the books she wanted to read. Who has time for household chores when there are good books to be read? Indeed! I was a little let down by Howl's appearance. I had hoped for more antics with young wizard Howl--his toddler transformation was a missed opportunity although I enjoyed the scenes we did get. After you've read these books, check out the <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/castle/">Howl's Moving Castle</a> anime film by Hayao Miyazaki. I hope Jones is not finished with this world. I know I'm not!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-67279563792073717332008-12-06T13:44:00.000-08:002008-12-07T05:49:23.929-08:00Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Nathan Hale, illus. by Dean Hale (Bloomsbury, 2008)<a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STrzCAA_r1I/AAAAAAAAALE/GQ0WMGPEfqs/s1600-h/Rapunzel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STrzCAA_r1I/AAAAAAAAALE/GQ0WMGPEfqs/s200/Rapunzel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276797129107418962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> This is my kind of graphic <span class="userReview"><span id="freeTextContainerreview33236701" class="reviewText"> novel...super heroes in the guise of folktale heroines! "Punzie" and sidekick Jack are a great team with snarky reparte, a humorous flair, and friendship that hints of a budding romance. The western influence reminded me of another favorite graphic novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">Daisy Kutter: The Last Train</span>. Glad to hear the authors are teaming up for a sequel. This Rapunzel escapes Gothel, uses her long braids as lassos to dispense with the bad guys, and returns to try to improve life of the citizens affected by Gothel's heavy taxes and detrimental spells. I need some other graphic novel reading suggestions. If you have a favorite, leave us a comment!<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> No quarrel here, partner! I loved everything about this book: the fairy tale set in the Old West, the perfect palette, the humor, the spunky characters, and the sassy dialog. I can’t resist lines like Jack admitting, “I have a serious problem with some giants.” What I like most about this terrific book is the way the text and illustrations work together to create the story. The Hales (all of them) smartly allow the illustrations to carry the action, often using vivid colors to heighten the tension. This is a perfect blend and I can’t wait to see more from this talented team. Oh - and the goose was a great character!<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> I just read Jen Hubert's <a href="http://www.readingrants.org/2008/06/10/rapunzels-revenge-by-shannon-and-dean-hale-illustrated-by-nathan-hale/">Reading Rants</a> post about this book--I want to be Jen when I grow up! The woman can write and she has fabulous hair!<br /></span></span>Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-16937975191468859062008-12-05T04:42:00.000-08:002008-12-05T08:09:37.126-08:00Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion, 2008)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STkslHJ8-xI/AAAAAAAAAK8/c3d8Bi1PbQ0/s1600-h/25677999.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STkslHJ8-xI/AAAAAAAAAK8/c3d8Bi1PbQ0/s320/25677999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276297454528822034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> "Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you." Trouble does come of course, even to Henry’s privileged New England family, when a truck driven by a young Cambodian immigrant critically injures Henry’s older brother. Schmidt’s signature fluid prose beautifully captures two distinctly different communities, exploring issues of racial prejudice, class, perception and family loyalty. Henry’s friend Sanborn and Black Dog (a terrific addition to literature dogs!) add humor to a leisurely-paced thoughtful coming of age story. There are some problems here including a few exceptionally convenient plot devices and some one-dimensional secondary characters but I didn’t care. Those concerns were swept away for me by the strength of the portrayal of Henry’s journey from childhood to adolescence, the vividly evoked sense of place and the masterfully crafted language. We recently heard Gary Schmidt speak at a conference about his fascination with what event or experience initiates the change from childhood to adolescence. That theme stands out so much for me in this book. Henry’s awakening is written with such subtlety and grace that I am willing to forgive any quibbles I might have.<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> There's no question that Schmidt is a master wordsmith. I've admired his writing since first reading <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sin Eater</span> and I've read everything of his except <span style="font-style: italic;">Anson's Way</span>. I agree with most of Lynn's praise for this book. The setting is fabulous, his descriptions are lush and the physical and psychological journeys mesh well. That said, I felt like I was being beaten over the head with the Trouble metaphor, especially the refrain about building your house far from trouble. I listened to this on audio, so perhaps that repetition annoyed me more than it would have if I'd read it in print like Lynn. I don't know, I like this book a lot and will booktalk it with teens but I'd have liked a little more subtlety. Listening to Gary tell stories at our conference was wonderful. He is a storyteller in every sense of the word. You just want to spend an evening by a fire and listen to him spin tales. Black dog is a keeper for sure. I'd like a whole book about his escapades. His effect on the house mimics that of my teenage daughters who leave a similar trail of destruction behind.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-7228328235092217472008-12-02T11:56:00.000-08:002008-12-02T17:54:03.748-08:00The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies by Jane Werner (Random House, 1951/2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STWUOi1vmUI/AAAAAAAAAK0/TjLo8pvPzaA/s1600-h/Elves+and+Fairies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STWUOi1vmUI/AAAAAAAAAK0/TjLo8pvPzaA/s320/Elves+and+Fairies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275285516125706562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> My name is Lynn and I am addicted to books. It started out slowly - a picture book here, a fairy tale there but before I knew it I owned the entire collection of Sue Barton and every Oz book ever written. I hoped I would change. But the cravings grew stronger than ever. My family guessed. The clues were everywhere: my constant requests for bookshelves, the towering stacks of books hidden around the house, the fact that all the bookstore clerks knew me by name. But even I did not realize how deeply I was hooked until the day I sat at the coffee shop idly reading review magazines and then it happened. I saw an article talking about the reissue of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Giant Golden Book of Fairies and Elves</span>. “OMG,” I shrieked, reverting to abbreviations in my excitement. I leaped to my feet, knocking over my butter rum latte and my chair. I HAD to have it! My old copy was battered from years of reading. "The Lost Merbaby," "Singeli’s Silver Slippers," the wonderful Garth Williams illustrations, "The Cannery Bear!" Every eye in the coffee shop was on me. This is a Calvinist town and we don’t shout about books here. It was then that I knew I needed help. Heed this cautionary tale! RUN to your nearest bookstore and order this fabulous book for everyone you know. Then locate the nearest 12-step program. I’ll be there, with this childhood treasure clutched to my heart.<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cindy:</span> I don't even know where to start to respond to that. Fortunately, we often take turns with bad moods and unbridled enthusiasm so we can help each other through the good and bad. Teasing aside, I <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> relate to Lynn's delight in Random House's reissue of favorite <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/golden/">Golden Books</a>. These books, purchased in the grocery store, and reread endlessly, imprinted on our DNA. My childhood favorite was <span style="font-style: italic;">Tommy Visits the Doctor</span> with the delightful Richard Scarry illustrations of the boy and rabbit simultaneously visiting their doctors. True fans will have already read 2007's <span style="font-style: italic;">Golden Legacy</span> by Leonard S. Marcus. But back to elves and fairies. This book is charming and Garth Williams' drawings add just the right touch. A personal favorite of mine is the poem, "The Second-Hand Shop," by Rowena Bennett that explains what happens to all the household items I lose that the Borrowers don't abscond with...a fairy is selling them!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-76227166774056308152008-12-02T05:55:00.000-08:002008-12-05T08:10:23.633-08:00Happy Holidays!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STU_DCzhYoI/AAAAAAAAAKs/0ZvuZRtAWCA/s1600-h/CIMG0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STU_DCzhYoI/AAAAAAAAAKs/0ZvuZRtAWCA/s320/CIMG0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275191860059529858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> We have big glass display cases in both of my middle schools and the art department uses them a lot, but one of them has sat empty for quite a while. Tired of looking at it, my awesome secretary, Val, surprised me this morning with a gift wrapped case. I added a bow and a gift tag that reads: For: Mac Bay Readers -- From: Santa. Sometimes the easiest displays get the most attention. This one is already attracting the students and staff and everyone wants to know what is in the gift! We can't help you with your shopping, but our gift to you is the fast display idea. Happy Holidays from Bookends!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-9084895646962388262008-12-01T05:12:00.000-08:002008-12-01T06:57:26.094-08:00Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George (Bloomsbury 2008)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STPjR0NlcDI/AAAAAAAAAKk/DqNCXbr-bXw/s1600-h/23571549.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 223px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STPjR0NlcDI/AAAAAAAAAKk/DqNCXbr-bXw/s320/23571549.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274809483793887282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> One of the great pleasures of snowy days is nestling in with a wonderful book. Here is one that is picture perfect for wintry days. The baby born to a bitter and disappointed mother doesn't even have a name. Called Lass by her family, the little girl grows up quiet and self-sufficient with a secret talent that enables her to communicate with animals. During one especially hungry winter, a huge polar bear arrives at the house and offers wealth to the family in exchange for Lass spending a year and a day with him in his castle. Lass does her best to curb her curiosity and endure the year. But what girl can resist trying to solve the mystery of the beautiful young man who slips into her bed each night? George blends an enchanting retelling of a Norwegian tale with exciting new elements, creating a completely satisfying read. I especially loved the trolls! So grab a quilt, make a cup of cocoa and enjoy!<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy:</span> 398.2 is this storyteller's favorite section of the library. I also love fictional folktale retellings. Robin McKinley's <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Robin-McKinley-Beauty--Beasts-and-Fractured-Fairytales"><span style="font-style: italic;">Beauty</span></a> was the first to really capture my heart by fully fleshing out a familiar tale into something very new. George's retelling of "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon" is sure to please fans of Edith Pattou's <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/11a/ea163.htm"> <span style="font-style: italic;">East</span> </a>that looks at the same tale. Lass's ability to talk to animals makes her relationship with her pet wolf very entertaining, and it's a magical element that is also important to the plot. Three cheers for a book in which the beloved "dog" doesn't die! This story enchanted me the whole way, but I have to admit that I prefer the Beauty and the Beast storyline to East of the Sun. I mean, doesn't it creep you out a little that the girl is forced to sleep next to a man she doesn't know for a year? Sure, he is a gentleman, but I prefer Beauty's more distanced contact with her beast, thank you very much. That said, I can see how both girls fall in love with the gentle beasts they are imprisoned with. And Lynn's right, the trolls are fabulous--so too the salamander chefs, the faun, and other fey creatures. If I weren't in danger of being imprisoned myself by towering stacks of unread books, I'd be tempted to curl up with this one again.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-58579254366591164372008-11-30T07:06:00.000-08:002008-11-30T09:19:02.252-08:00Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd (Random House/David Fickling 2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STKsvrx03nI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TpoLXl4XYQk/s1600-h/Bog+Child.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/STKsvrx03nI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TpoLXl4XYQk/s320/Bog+Child.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274468048809811570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cindy: </span></span><span class="userReview"><span id="freeTextreview26937738" style="" class="reviewText">From the haunting cover, readers are warned that this will be a novel of sacrifices. Fergus finds a body buried in the peat he is digging in Northern Ireland. It turns out to be from 80 AD, another body preserved in the bog. He begins to dream about the mysterious past of the girl, who apparently was murdered. Woven into this story is the 1980s politics of the Troubles, and the hunger strike by the political prisoners at Long Kesh, including Fergus's older brother. A romance with the archaeologist's daughter and Fergus's involvement in delivering secret packages that may contain bomb-making ingredients complicate his life. This is very different from the author's <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780375849763.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">A London Eye Mystery</span></a>, which I also loved.</span></span><span class="userReview"><span id="freeTextreview26937738" style="" class="reviewText"> Fans of David Almond's books are going to admire this one for its magical realism bits, religious themes, and superb use of dialect. Even if readers have to scramble to research more about the Troubles, they'll have no trouble relating to Fergus's response to his first kisses: </span></span><span class="style22">“Why wasn’t the whole world doing this all the time, why?”<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span></span> Cindy has been after me to read this book for weeks and something always bumped it down the stack. Don't let this happen to you! I was prepared from the blurbs for this to be grim and while there are definitely dark and grim elements here, the overall tone is one of optimism and hope - despite all of man's idiocies, life is full of promise and with joy to be found in the most unexpected of places. Dowd weaves multiple plot threads effortlessly and the pace never falters. I was equally enthralled by the various stories, never impatient with any of them, and captivated by the beautifully developed characters. The cast is large from Welsh border guard to grieving mother to Iron Age girl and all spoke with convincing authenticity. The several mysteries are nicely resolved and the astute reader has all the clues needed. This is a beautifully crafted book that satisfies on multiple levels and deserves to win attention and awards. It completely won my heart and I am saddened again at the loss of this gifted writer.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-56102179415051329652008-11-27T06:16:00.000-08:002008-12-01T07:16:18.845-08:00'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic, 1990)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68dns4MdI/AAAAAAAAAKU/aezKO4EjtDg/s1600-h/Night+before+Thanksgiving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68dns4MdI/AAAAAAAAAKU/aezKO4EjtDg/s200/Night+before+Thanksgiving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273359430756872658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68Y8BrWvI/AAAAAAAAAKM/8-o8WerECSo/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68Y8BrWvI/AAAAAAAAAKM/8-o8WerECSo/s200/Thanksgiving+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273359350313474802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68Oh6-k5I/AAAAAAAAAKE/FBAU9yCyoLM/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SS68Oh6-k5I/AAAAAAAAAKE/FBAU9yCyoLM/s200/Thanksgiving+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273359171507360658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cindy: </span>This post should have been up yesterday, but if I hadn't cleaned the kitchen instead we'd never have been able to get to the counters to stuff our own turkey this morning. Our plan was to each share a favorite Thanksgiving picture book, but Lynn was traveling over the river and through the woods to Lafayette, IN to bring her parents home for Thanksgiving, so I am flying solo this year. We'll plan ahead next year. Yeah, right.<br /><br />'Twas the day before Thanksgiving<br />And all through the trees,<br />The fall leaves were spinning<br />Aloft in the breeze.<br /><br />Eight school children take a field trip with their peace sign earring-wearing teacher to a turkey farm where Farmer Mack Nuggett calls his turkeys by name: "Now Ollie, now Stanley, now Larry and Moe, on Wally, on Beaver, on Shemp and Groucho!" The kids befriend the turkeys and come up with a plan to spare them from their Thanksgiving fate. Signature Pilkey humor, great comic illustrations that pay tribute to some famous paintings, and a message of peace. Great holiday fare. If you're not familiar with this 1990 Scholastic/Orchard publication, add it to next year's holiday traditions!<br /><br />Now, football is also a part of many families' Thanksgiving weekend traditions, so I have another reading recommendation for those fans. It's <a href="http://www.sportskidblog.com/">The Sports Kid Blog</a> written by my cousin, Jack, a 6th grader. Even if you are not a Miami Dolphin or football fanatic like he is, check out his great writing style and voice. We just recently discovered each other's blogs and I was very impressed with his and have added it to my reader feed. He asked how I read so many books. I said, "I don't clean my house, can't you tell?" He looked around and completely deadpan said, "Yes." Consider this a fitting coda to this post's opening statement!<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving from Bookends!Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133953407329321553.post-91293903379470404612008-11-25T05:02:00.000-08:002008-12-01T07:13:55.723-08:00Swim the Fly by Don Calame (Candlewick, 4/2009)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SSv3xLhjdeI/AAAAAAAAAJs/vnIgHTNdi9g/s1600-h/51JOqSq8C%2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCpnTIyevnA/SSv3xLhjdeI/AAAAAAAAAJs/vnIgHTNdi9g/s200/51JOqSq8C%2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272580213046474210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lynn:</span> I know it’s not nice to tease but we are going to talk about this laugh-out loud funny book even though it won’t publish till April. I think it is extremely hard to write humor but this first novel makes it look easy. Fifteen-year-old Matt and his two buddies have a tradition of setting a summer goal. This year’s is to see a real-live naked girl. Add barbell disasters, laxative and fart jokes, a nudist colony and three bumbling buddies who steal your heart and you have a book tailor made for teen-age boys. There is lots of crude snort-worthy humor here but there is also a sweetness to this story that will win over the most hard-hearted reader. It is definitely worth waiting for! My thanks to the generous folks at Candlewick for letting us have an early peek.<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cindy:</span> <span class="userReview"><span id="freeTextContainerreview33236667" class="reviewText">Matt's efforts to get in shape enough to just finish the 100 yard butterfly for his team will have your sides hurting as much as his--but yours will be from laughing. And I just love Gramps. Truly. Every boy needs a gramps like him. </span></span>Not only did we get an early peek at this hilarious title, but the arc features Lynn's and my first book blurbs, along with friend, Ed Spicer (<a href="http://www.spicyreads.org/">www.spicyreads.org</a>) Two of our teen readers also have their comments in the arc. Here's what they had to say:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Nick A., age 16:</span> "The book is incredibly funny, but I can still relate to those awkward moments....Had it not been for school and food, I would have read it straight through."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Leah M., age 14:</span> "The main characters'...appalling cluelessness when it comes to girls will be sure to elicit a sympathetic cringe from the male population and a raucous laugh from everyone else. This book sped by with all the ease and grace of a truly amazing read, and considerably faster than most manage to swim the fly."<br /><br />Finally, our teens were able to join us in providing feedback about the cover art. We love the final look--represents the contents very well and should be eye catching on the bookstore and library shelves for its target audience.Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04692643219860973924noreply@blogger.com2