Kathleen's Recomendations


Kathleen	North of Beautiful February 2009 by Justina Chen Headley "After each book that Justina writes, I honestly don't think they could get any better. When I first read Nothing But the Truth (and a Few White Lies) I was enchanted. When I saw that she was writing a new one, I didn't think she could top Lies. But then along came Girl Overboard and I found out how wrong I was. And now with North, Justina has taken her writing to a whole new level and I was glad to have been along for the ride. Justina takes care to write characters that are believable but more importantly, human. Their stories could easily be any one of our one stories and by watching her characters grow from beginning to end, we as readers grow as well."	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin October 2008 by Holly Black “I am really enjoying this new world of graphic novels that has opened to me in the past 2 years. Good Neighbors is another one that I've added to my permanent collection at home. Rue's world has turned upside down. Her mother is missing, her father has just been arrested for the murder of one of his students and Rue thinks she is hallucinating because she is seeing fairies. When Rue discovers a secret about herself that her family has kept hidden, pieces of her life begin to fall into place. And these might be the clues she needs to find out what really happened to her mother.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Graceling by Kristin Cashore October 2008 "WOW! And I'm not a huge Fantasy reader. So for me to recommend this - it has to be good! Kasta has been 'blessed' with the 'gift' of killing, no one can match her strength and speed. Because of this gift, Kasta's uncle, the King of Middluns, keeps her in his court as his most feared assassin. Kasta's struggle with her 'gift' but the desire for redemption sets her on a course that may lead her to cross her uncle. Political intrigue, espionage, and the strongest character is a girl. What could be better? I love to see strong, positive female characters in books for teens. I would keep this at the 14 year old and up age though (violence and some content).	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Bats at the Library September 2008 by Brian Lies “Any book that celebrates reading while making bats look cute and cuddly deserves 5 stars! What a sweet story that will appeal to anyone, young and young at heart. A community of bats bored and worried that they are going to have another night of the same old', discover with joy that a window has been left open at their local library. This is the night that they have all waited for so that they can "lose themselves among the books lined up on the shelves." But just like a good book that ends too soon, the bats realize their night of adventure quickly draws to a close and off they go into the dawn, anxiously waiting for their next library adventure.”	Picture Book
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos September 2008 “Actually, it should be 2.5 stars but I can't figure out how to do one-half star. I really enjoyed the first 150 pages of this book. It was well-paced, good character development and a good story. It's the last 250 pages that I have a problem with. I almost felt like the author wasn't sure what do with them once he changed the setting. There was too much whining, too many side characters, and not enough development of the main character. I actually saw more growth from Jimmy then I did Rico. The story just seemed to plod along not quite knowing where it wanted to go or what it wanted to be."	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	My One Hundred Adventures September 2008 by Polly Horvath "Finally! I have been waiting for another story to enchant me just like Everything on a Waffle and I finally found it in My One Hundred Adventures! It is simply charming! Jane is a 12 year old girl who decides that this summer will be the summer of adventure. She is no longer content to sit and play at the beach like she has done every other year. Well, it doesn't take long for adventure to find Jane. From a small fair she and her family stop at, to the stranger who amy or may not be her father, to the attempt at driving a neighbor across the country to California, to the unexpected solo hot-air balloon ride. This will be a summer that Jane will never forget. The only complaint I have is that the book will not be released until September. This story is soft, gentle, meaningful and meant to be enjoyed just like a lazy summer day that you never want to end. ‘Suddenly I realize that everyone in the whole world is, at the end of the day, staring at a dusky horizon, owner of a day that no one else will ever know.’ Jane Fielding is wise beyond her 12 years.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff August 2008 “This was the type of book that you hate to put down and just can't wait to get back to. I carried it with me all everywhere I went so that if I found myself with 5 minutes to spare, I had my nose buried in the book. There are two stories within the cover of The 19th Wife. We have Ann Eliza's story of what it was like growing up in the early Mormon Church. Ann Eliza grows up to be the 19th wife of Brigham Young and eventually divorces him. You also have the modern day story of Jordan, a young man who was part of a Mormon splinter group who was kicked out at age 14. Jordan's mom, also a 19th wife, is in jail accused of killing her husband and Jordan is the only one who seems to stand by her side and believe she may be innocent. I was afraid that Jordan's storyline and Ann Eliza's storyline would be hard for me to bounce between but David Ebershoff did an amazing job weaving the two stories together. If you haven't already read Under the Banner of Heaven, it would be a great non-fiction book to pair with The 19th Wife.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	S.A.S.S Series by Multiple Authors "I love the SASS series. These are great "beach" reads for girls ages 13 - 16. Each book is a stand-alone story but all of them have the same premise. The SASS (Students Across the Seven Seas) program is a semester abroad program so each book features a different girl headed off to a foreign country. Each main character has her own issues to solve while learning about the country they are living in. Girls will love the believable, every day issues while parents will love the educational aspect. (Did you know that the International Olympic Committee doesn't allow women to compete in the ski jump event? Their position is that we are too frail for that sport). My favorites were When Irish Guys Are Smiling, The Finnish Line and The Sound of Munich. My daughter loved Spain or Shine and Getting the Boot."	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer July 2008 spoiler alert “I almost missed this book which would have been a huge mistake! This novel was an absolute joy to read! Owen and his brother Zach have been given up by their mother to an orphanage. After realizing that Zach has a better chance of being adopted without him, Owen puts his little brother on the orphan train heading west and then sets out to find his own way in life. His path leads him to the River Palace, a floatig circus, and then leads Zach into a job, friendships and his share of new problems.I read this in one sitting and enjoyed every page! The Floating Circus has so many pieces of history woven into the story that you could easily use tie this novel into other lesson plans if using Floating Circus in the classroom. Pair it with Karen Cushman's Rodzina for the history of the Orphan Trains; use it to discuss slavery in the US; child labor; workers' rights/unions; animal rights... Spoiler alert........ non-baby elephants are harmed in this book.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society July 2008 by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows “That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book...all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment." - Juliet Ashton in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And that is exactly what this book has done for me. I now want to read the writings of Charles Lamb and read about the history of the Channel Islands. Both authors did a beautiful job of making the characters come to life for me. I was charmed by Dawsey Adams, thought Mark Reynolds was slime, and wished that I were friends with Juliet and Elizabeth. This is the perfect book to lose yourself in before summer ends. It deserves to be savored. But keep your Kleenex close by.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society July 2008 by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows “That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book...all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment." - Juliet Ashton in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And that is exactly what this book has done for me. I now want to read the writings of Charles Lamb and read about the history of the Channel Islands. Both authors did a beautiful job of making the characters come to life for me. I was charmed by Dawsey Adams, thought Mark Reynolds was slime, and wished that I were friends with Juliet and Elizabeth. This is the perfect book to lose yourself in before summer ends. It deserves to be savored. But keep your Kleenex close by.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong July 2008 “The only thing bad that I can say about this book was the ending. It doesn't tie everything up in a nice neat ending and leaves you wanting more! This is a great book for Twilight fans while they wait for Breaking Dawn or after they've finished Breaking Dawn and are going through withdrawal.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	The Walls of Cartagena by Julia Durango July 2008 “Another little story with a big punch! There are so many things that I love about this book but just to name a few: opening the reader's eyes to the slave trade and what humans did to one another; introducing the topic of the Inquisition to younger readers; talking about Don Quixote in such a way that I even want to read it (yes, another secret is out - when required to read Don Quixote in high school, I faked it). This story centers on young Calepino, a 13-year-old boy who, while born to a slave, was taken in by a wealthy woman after the death of his mother. After his 13th birthday, Calepino is sent to work with Father Pedro; a devout priest who is on a mission to ease the suffering of newly arrived African slaves. It's there that Calepiino meets Dr. Lopez, Mara, and Tomi the people who will change Calepino's life forever. I would love to see this paired with The Surrender Tree to discuss Central/South American history or even to talk about what can happen when people stand up for what is right. High School classes could take Walls of Cartegena, The Surrender Tree, Out of Bounds (by Beverly Naidoo) and The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo and talk about Human Rights.”	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	Artichoke's Heart by Carolyn Mackler June 2008 "My favorite Summer '08 release, it doesn't get any better than Artichoke's Heart! This heartwarming story is about 16 year-old Rosemary, who is overweight and doesn't have any friends. At home she has always felt like a third wheel with her mom and her aunt. Mom seems to ignore Rosemary for the most part unless it's time to gang up on her with Rosemary's aunt about her appearance. When Rosemary finally decides to do something about her weight, the motivation at first is simply to keep her mom quiet. But as she continues on step by step, Rosemary not only discovers her own self but finds a friend in the most unexpected place. The sweetest moment was when Rosemary realizes that you shouldn't put your life on hold until you've achieved your dream image of yourself, start living life now. Great book for girls 13-17 years old who like realistic fiction and for parents who want the stories to have a positive message! Artichoke will appeals to anyone who has read and loved The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. I can't wait to see what Suzanne Supplee writes next!"	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Mexican High by Liza Monroy June 2008 “While it is set in high school, Mexican High is definitely NOT a book for anyone younger than 18. It is a very moving story of what life was like for Mila, the daughter of a single mom who works for the Foreign Services department. Mila's life had been lived out of suitcases but fort the last 3 years, they have been in Washington DC and Mila thought her mom had finally settled down. But that changes at the beginning of Mila's senior year, her mom announces that she has been given another post. Set against the beautiful but dangerous backdrop of Mexico City, Mila tries to find her own bearings and learn what it means to be independent.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity June 2008 by Kerry Cohen “This is a book that every woman needs to read! Even more so if you are the parent of a daughter. I pair this with Pledged by Alexandra Robbins as "Must Reads" for any girl on her way to college, in college, or about to send their own daughter to college. Kerry gives a powerful and moving picture of what could happen when we don't empower our own girls to take charge of their bodies as well as their minds. By sharing her painful past with us, she hopes to give us the tools we need not to let anyone we care about make the same mistakes.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall May 2008 “I was humming Elvis tunes to myself all the way through this book, how could you not. Being a 13 year-old boy with divorced parents is hard enough. But add to that the fact that he not only has to spend this summer with his dad in Chicago, he's going to be starting 7th grade there as well. And when he arrives in Chicago, his dad has other surprises for Josh - a new girlfriend and he's started his own business as an Elvis impersonator. This could possibly be the worst year Josh has had yet. While younger readers may not be know everything there is to know about Elvis, they will at least know who Elvis was. But the heart of this story is Josh learning what to do when the people you love the most also embarrass you the most.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein May 2008 I have finally found the book that satisfies my craving for good, old-fashioned, creepy ghost stories! This would be the perfect campfire read this summer! But a word of caution... do not read it alone at night, especially if your house is surrounded by trees (like mine). Zack, his dad and new step-mom have moved to a small town in Connecticut. And it just so happens that their new property includes a tree that designates the site of this community's worst accident in which 41 people died. And while their bodies may be at rest, their spirits are not. With the help of his new friend, Davy, Zack hatches a plan to help the victims and put them at rest once and for all. But one spirit isn't going down without a fight, he has a score to settle and Zack is in his way. This fast paced story had twist and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Crossroads captured me right at page 1 and the only time I stopped reading was to get up for bathroom breaks! I especially loved the "tributes" (for lack of a better word) to The Wizard of Oz throughout the story.	Fiction
	Rated:


Kathleen	Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan May 2008 "This whole series took my by surprise! I really did not think that I was going to like this series but I am so glad that I picked up book 1 anyway! And now I have to go back and read Capt. America, Spiderman, Cloak and Dagger, and look at me...I'm reading comics and LOVING it!”	Graphic Novel
	Not Rated:


I love this series too. I also REALLY love Y: The Last Man. It's also written by Brian K. Vaughan. It is the story of Yorick Brown, who because of a disease which killed everything on earth with a Y chromosome is the last man on earth. Every issue is awesome.
Rated:


Kathleen	Uh-Oh, Cleo by Jessica Harper April 2008 “I love Cleo! This is great for a 1st - 3rd grade reader, these are great stories that are about everyday events that can happen in any family. Jessica Harper's warm and funny writing style will appeal to future writers by showing them that story ideas can come from anywhere, anytime. Parents will love reading and re-reading these stories out loud. Not only will they be sharing giggles with their children but it may also want to share some of their own family stories with them as well. And, let's be honest, a good book isn't just something we can lose ourselves in, it's something that we can rediscover our families and friends with.”	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Cow That Laid an Egg by February 2008 Andy Cutbill "This is a great read aloud for the preschool age (not only is it a funny story, it's a fun one to read out loud). Marjorie is a cow who just doesn't feel special (she doesn't have the same talents as the rest of the cows on the farm).. But Marjorie's friends, the chickens, "hatch" a plan that they hope will restore Marjorie's self-confidence and let her know that she's special in her own way.Wouldn't we all love to friends like Marjorie's?"	Picture Book
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Third Coast: Sailors, Strippers, Fishermen, Folksingers, Long-Haired Ojibway Painters, and God-Save-the-Queen Monarchists of the Great Lakes by Ted McClelland February 2008 “Who knew what a rich, eclectic history we have here in the Great Lakes? This is a great summer read that will make you want to get out and explore!”	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski January 2008 "Woolbur is a little sheep that doesn't like to do things the way the rest of the pack does. While it causes many sleepless nights for Ma and Pa, Woolbur's answer is always "I know! Isn't it great?" When Ma and Pa finally convince Woolbur there is value in doing things the way everyone else does, Woolbur finds a compromise... he teaches the rest of the pack to do things they way he does them! Wouldn't our kids be much more secure in themselves if we all took Woolbur's perspective and celebrated what makes us individuals?"	Picture Book
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	The Street of a Thousand Blossoms September 2007 by Gail Tsukiyama This book is the perfect example of what it means to want to savor a story! I have been a huge fan of Ms. Tsukiyama's ever since Samurai's Garden. After the release of Dreaming Water, I was afraid it that she wasn't going to write anymore because it took so long to get Street of a Thousand Blossoms out. But it was worth waiting for! This the story of two young men, Heroshi and Kenji, as the grow up in Japan at the dawn of World War II, but also so much more. It's love, life, happiness and sadness. Be prepared, once you start this book, you will not stop until you have finished it! And closing this book for the last time is like saying goodbye to a dear friend!	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson February 2007 "Anyone who knows me knows that I do not read adult non-fiction(I don't have the attention span for most of it). But Manhunt changed all of that! This riveting account of the days after Lincoln's assassination will keep you glued to the edge of your seat! I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't fiction. Manhunt makes a great stepping-stone for anyone who has yet to read Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Readers will also see parallels to what we went through as a nation shortly after 9/11."	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:

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