Death Junior by Gary Whitta
This is an odd graphic novel. Now, I don’t often read graphic novels (manga is my genre) so that may account for my initial balk (I mean, really; an armless, legless diaper-wearing malcontent in a tank-like formaldehyde jar?).
I began to enjoy it though, as the dialog proved witty and contemporary.
For example, Death is paying Thomas a little visit:
“Thomas Bellamy. May I have one of your hash browns? / MMMM. These are good! I can see why you ate 13,147 over the course of your life. / But you really should have listened to that doctor. The one who warned you that all this junk food would be the death of you.”
“How… Do you know… my name? Who are you?”
“I am the Death of you, Mr. Bellamy.”
A lot of this sort of humor helps me to forget the odd nature of the fantastical freaks in an otherwise normal world who are at the core of this story.
The Children of the Lamp: The Blue Djinn of Babylon by P.B. Kerr
This follow up book was the equivalent of a movie sequel whose main purpose is to set up the third film. It didn’t have much to offer in the way new characters (except for the Blue Djinn, whose hardened heart made her capable of kidnapping but whose position as djinn judge conflicted with this self-serving action).
As Philippa and John embark on another adventure, their all-to-trusting natures gets them into a lot of trouble. Readers will learn more about the djinn world: djinn travel, djinn law and the comical world of Djinnverso. Just when I was going to lump The Children of the Lamp series in with the Magyk series, Kerr surprised me with a look at Iraq and a scene from a South American slum.
Princess Tea Party
I held two Princess Tea Parties this past Thursday. To include boys, simply call it a Royal Tea Party. We had fun taking pictures with my tiara afterward!
Crowns: Michael’s – I bought crowns from Oriental Trading but they were flimsy. The crowns from Michaels were sturdy, though small. They fit high on the head, but they worked. And if you plan to attach gems, sturdy is good. They cost $3.00 per pack of 12.
Tea Set: Toys R Us – $15.00 for a set of four (includes cup, saucer, plate, forks/knife/spoon/tea spoon, creamer, napkin holder and pitcher – which weren’t sealed properly so I didn’t use those). I bought 4 sets to accommodate 16 kids. While this is expensive, I have used them 4 times now and will use them a total of 6 times this summer.
Other: Crayola Markers, Sharpie Markers, Stencils, Tacky Glue, and Gems.
Darkest Powers: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong [Book 1]
I picked up this thriller when I saw the sequel on the best seller list. I have no idea how it got so popular. Well, I guess I have some idea. There is a young, average girl (she frightens easily – poor kitten!) who has a supernatural power. She meets others with special abilities, one being a werewolf. He comes to the rescue.
Now, the book is not as cliché as I’ve just made it out. Chloe’s ability to see the dead is not romanticised. The dead are gruesome and they clearly want Chloe’s attention. Chloe is nowhere near as sappy as Bella (Twilight), she suffers only from the same longwindedness of thought and expression. Readers hear everything going through Chloe’s head. It gets dry pretty quickly and I end up thinking this girl must be an idiot.
I did enjoy Chloe’s take on Lyle House and what it means to be crazy. The most memorable interaction was between Chloe and Rae, a girl who likes fire the same way my boyfriend likes motorcycles. No one locks my boy up for his obsession, but if you enjoy fire too much, you must be a pyromaniac.
But none of the dialog or writing really stood out and I’m sure it’s appeal will be briefly, albeit hotly, lived.
Books of Umber: Happenstance Found by P.W. Catanese
Readers enter the magical world of Kurahaven alongside Happenstance, a young boy with no memory. When he awakes, blindfolded and wet on a cold cave floor, Happenstance has no idea who he is or where he comes from. But someone has arranged for him to be found.
He is rescued by Oates, a brutish man laboring under a curse that requires him to always speak truthfully, Sophie, a young shy archer, and Lord Umber, a man of many talents who hales from another world – Earth.
While with Umber, Hap begins to display unusual qualities: the ability to see in the dark, to see a great distance, and to jump extraordinarily high. What other abilities will reveal themselves as Hap grows and has adventures?
A solid fantasy read. This book seems to be the tip of an iceberg. We learn just enough about Happenstance to understand where he might be headed and to care that he gets there intact. Umber is a fascinating man, charismatic and mysterious. There is a sprinkling of political intrigue, the hint of another like Happenstance, and an overlap between two very different worlds. I can’t wait for more!
Definitely for fans of Fablehaven and Inkheart. Also, fans of manga series such as Ruroni Kenshin would probably enjoy this as well. I think Oates has a very anime quality to him.
Read more reviews at: King County Library System, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Book Aunt
Local Libraries Offer All Kinds of Free Activities
On their way to an "Oscar the Grouch Birthday Party" program
The Ocean County Library is featured in the Asbury Park Press’s LIFE section online as a rainy day destination for good free activities. But the library is more than that. Rain or shine, I foresee the Library replacing costly summer camps and trips to Six Flags as parents are looking for wholesome activities for their children.
In the vein of our summer reading theme, “Be Creative @ the Library,” we are offering a slew of art, theatre, and craft activities every day, all summer long. On top of this, we have book clubs for all school age children and a Teen/Child Reading Buddies program for those still learning to read.
You can check out all our programs with the Ocean County Library Calendar of Events.
Book Seer
A reader’s advisory application that recommends books based on what you’ve just read and liked. It pulls its recommendations from Amazon and Library Thing. I tried Skulduggery Pleasant and was pleased to see it recommended the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as well as Darren Shan’s Demonata series. Maybe I’ll try it if I ever get in a bind… Check it out: Book Seer.
Author Visit: Nan Marino
I hold a monthly book discussion group geared toward homeschoolers between the ages of 9 and 12. This month, we read Neil Armstrong is my Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me (read my review here) by debut author Nan Marino.
Nan shared many things with the kids including: a Life magazine from 1969 discussing Armstrong’s famous walk, official US postage stamps released to celebrate the moon walk, an original metal slinky (the good kind you can’t get anymore), astronaut ice cream, and the first book she ever wrote (a children’s picture book).
Nan also encourage the children to keep at it, whether it be writing or some other dream. She received hundreds of rejection letters before Neil Armstrong was accepted.
A lovely visit for a wonderful book. Here are some pictures:
Nan Stands on Ramble Street
Nan Teaches the Kids How to Dance the Alley Cat
Stamps from 1969
More pictures here.
Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles
I’m getting a feel for Deborah Wiles and enjoying it greatly. I grew up with Jo (Little Women), Anne (Anne of Green Gables), and Emily (Emily of New Moon). If I had Love, Ruby Lavender around at the time, I would have fallen in love with Wiles as I did Montgomery.
Ruby is a fiery twelve-year-old raised by her single mother in the small town of Halleluia, Mississippi. Teased by her classmate, Melba Jane, Ruby prefers to spend her free time with her grandmother, a kindred spirit. When Miss Eula (her grandmother) leaves for Hawaii and a chance to see her new grandchild, Ruby must deal with the cruel and bossy Melba while contending for the friendship of a new girl in town and raising three chickens.
If you enjoyed Love, Ruby Lavender, I recommend Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Skulduggery Pleasant is a detective, mage and skeleton. Stephanie is a clever twelve-year-old girl thrown into a secret world of magic, sorcery and murder.
Much of the plot is built upon recycled principles, mashed up to create a new world where a skeleton has been unexplainable reanimated. Skulduggery is pretty unique, though his motivations and situation are not.
The interactions between Skulduggery and Stephanie provided the fresh breath needed to carry the story. While they often find themselves in cliqué situations, the two recognize it and so the banter begins.
I added it to our Library’s summer read list for students having completed grade six. I’ll be passing it out to fantasy fans once Fablehaven is taken. The sequels, Playing with Fire and The Faceless Ones, are already out. I’ll pick them… eventually. The series will consist of seven titles.
Sculduggery Pleasant has also been described as “a good starter contemporary fantasy” (Stilettos in the Stacks) and “theatrical” (Miss Print).
Warner Bros. Pictures has optioned the rights to a movie but no action has been taken yet.
