Library Queue: October 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Railway Children

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

Book 43 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 8 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Book 6 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had three hours in the car by myself and decided to download a library audiobook to my ipod for the drive. I didn't realize how limiting my selection was going to be since I was working on my Mac that night instead of a PC. But, I ended up somewhat reluctantly downloading this book. And then I promptly fell in love with it.

The Railway Children (no relation to The Boxcar Children) is a classic children's story that was written in 1906. The tale focuses on three children named Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis who move to the English countryside after their father is taken away. Their proximity to the railway provides them with all kinds of adventures that they never had when they lived in the city. They learn how to make do, make friends, and enjoy the outside world while interacting with the station master, the signalman, the porter, the town doctor, and even a bargeman.

This book would make a fantastic read-aloud. It kind of reminded me of Thomas the Tank Engine, but for older kids (and without talking locomotives and helicopters). It is definitely one of those great "old-fashioned" stories. Even though there were some colloquialisms used that clearly refer to the time the book was written, this is a story that will never go out of style.

I should mention that I wasn't a big fan of the reader of the audiobook. She had fabulous distinct voices for each character, but her English accent left something to be desired. I ended up reading the last half of the book in hardcover and was much less distracted.

Also reviewed by:

reading is my superpower

Have you read this one? Did you read it as a child?

Source: Library

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Midwife's Apprentice

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Book 42 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 7 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge

Awards: SLJ Best Book; Young Reader's Choice Award/Nominee; American Bookseller Pick of the List; ALA Notable/Best Books; Booklist Editors' Choice; NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts; Horn Book Fanfare; Newbery Medal; Parent's Choice Award/Honor Book

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book won the Newbery in 1996 and while it has been around for awhile, it has never really made it onto my radar until recently. I picked it up at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale a few months ago and thought it would make a nice quick read for the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. But I started it late into the evening and I had a hard time getting into it. I thought it was because I was tired, but I finished it up later and still came away with mixed feelings.

This is a short story of homeless girl in medieval England who becomes a midwife's apprentice (obviously). She is found in a town sleeping in a dung heap, and so everyone calls her Beetle, short for Dung Beetle. She is taunted and teased by locals, and pretty much generally abused by the midwife who takes her in. Eventually, she leaves the town thinking that she will be better off elsewhere. But ultimately she learns to face her fears and become the person that she wants to be.

I have to say that I did like the author's use of language and beautiful word choice. But I just wanted more from the story. More depth, more plot, more answers. It was a just a little too simple for the type of tale being told, in my opinion. I think the coarseness of Beetle's treatment and the descriptions used at the birth scenes make this a book for children at least 12 and up. But, the style of the book seemed like it would work better for younger kids. It almost came off as trite. There was just a disconnect for me between the subject, content, and style. I honestly felt that if the book was twice as long, I would have liked it twice as much. And maybe that's just because I'm not the intended audience after all.

After reading some other reviews, I get the sense that this is either a book you love or a book that you don't. So please, check out some of these reviews:

Have I missed yours?

Source: Purchased

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Life As We Knew It

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Book 41 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 11 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2005)
Book 2 for the YA Dystopian Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Awards: Nebula Award/Finalist; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Andre Norton Award; Booklist Editors' Choice; Quill Book Awards

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've had this one on my to-read list for awhile and even managed to snag a copy through BookMooch. I figured nothing could get me to stay awake during the week hours of the read-a-thon like a book that would scare the living daylights out of me, and this one definitely did its job!

When a meteor hits the moon and knocks it slightly off orbit, the effect on the earth is catastrophic. Miranda, a sophomore in high school, goes from worrying about whether or not she'll go to the prom to worrying about whether or not she and her family will have enough food and fuel to survive the winter. The book is written as Miranda's journal entries. It's a style that I love and I think works especially well with this plot.

I felt like Pfeffer did an excellent job grasping that feeling of helplessness, anxiety, and panic that happens when disaster strikes. I was reminded a lot of how I felt during September 11th, and could imagine how that might be on an even bigger scale. But the author also does a great job portraying how the survival instinct kicks in (or not) and how different people react in a given situation. You can't read this book without considering your own emergency preparedness.

I think this book would be appropriate starting at junior high age. There is a companion book, The Dead and Gone, which looks at the same event from a different set of eyes. At the moment I don't plan on reading it since I was kind of hoping for a continuation of Miranda's story instead. But this is a book that will definitely get you thinking!

Also reviewed by:

As always, please let me know if I have missed yours! (Blogger is being sketchy tonight, so I know I'm missing lots!)

Source: BookMooch

Read-a-thon End of Event Meme

Well, I fell asleep between 2am and 3am, woke up at 6am, read for a little bit, and went back to sleep. I ended up reading 1,000 pages.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? That 2am hour was a killer.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Shooting the Moon, How I Live Now, and Life As We Knew It were all good to read.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked the wide diversity of mini-challenges.
5. How many books did you read? 4
6. What were the names of the books you read? I finished North and South, Shooting the Moon, How I Live Now, Life as We Knew It, and started The Midwife's Apprentice
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Shooting the Moon
8. Which did you enjoy least? Probably The Midwife's Apprentice, but only because I was SO tired.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'm hoping to participate again. This was my second time as a reader.

Many thanks to the organizers and cheerleaders. I had a blast!

Read-a-thon Update #4

Well, six hours to go and I still haven't slept yet. This last hour has been tough and I might need a little cat nap here in a little bit.

I just finished reading Life As We Knew It. I have read 937 pages so far and have finished 4 books. I think The Midwife's Apprentice is the next book on my pile.

Thanks for the comments and cheerleading!

Give Me Five Meme

This meme asks us to list five favorite children's books. These aren't necessarily my all-time favorites, but here are five I love:

Saturday, October 24, 2009

How I Live Now

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Book 40 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 10 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2004)
Book 1 for the YA Dystopian Challenge
Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Michael Printz Award; Guardian Children's Fiction Prize; Horn Book Fanfare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How I Live Now is a dystopian YA fiction novel about a girl named Daisy from New York. Daisy has an eating disorder and she can't stand her stepmom-to-be, so she is sent to live in England with her cousins. There is a great fear of war, and her aunt leaves the five children alone to travel to Oslo for political reasons right before England is invaded. As the unthinkable happens, the children are left alone to fend for themselves until they are split up, relocated, and eventually forced to find their way back home.

I mostly enjoyed the innovative writing style which is real stream of consciousness with lots of Capital Letters. But it really captured Daisy's 15-year old voice beautifully. Conceptually I found this book interesting and scarily plausible. There is an, ahem, inappropriate cousin relationship between Daisy and her cousin Edmond which made me a little squeemish. But I absolutely fell in love with 9-year old Piper.

I found this tale of survival and familial relationships to be unique and could provide some interesting discussion. But, it is only a book I would recommend for the upper grade crowd because of its thematic elements.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed yours?

Source: BookMooch

Read-a-thon Update #3

I decided to participate in the meme for this hour since we are halfway through.

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Just going to start Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2. How many books have you read so far? 3

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Hmm. Probably this one.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? My husband took care of the kids and then in the afternoon a friend and I checked into a hotel so we could read in peace this evening.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? My kids were in and out today. But really, they just needed a few snuggles and kisses and they were off again!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How quickly it goes by!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I'll definitely be participating again. Right now I can't think of anything I would do differently.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Not yet. Talk to me in a couple of hours though.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Read short books that you are really excited about!
I've read 600 pages so far, so I'm a little behind what I accomplished in April. Look for my review of How I Live Now coming up in the next few hours!

Shooting the Moon

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Book 39 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 9 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2008)
Book 5 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Awards: Boston Globe/Horn Book Award/Honors; Christopher Award; Kirkus Editors Choice

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jamie Dexter is a 12 year old army brat who lives in North Carolina. As soon as her brother turns 18, he enlists as a medic in Vietnam. Jamie's father, the Colonel, is not at all happy about TJ's decision which shocks both brother and sister since they had been taught loyalty to country and the military their entire lives.

Instead of letters, Jamie's brother TJ only sends her home rolls of film to develop. With the help of one of the men on the base, Jamie learns how to develop the film. In the process, she realizes that her brother is communicating with her, just not through words.

This book is simple yet deep. It is incredibly well-written and surprisingly moving. Highly recommended for grade 5 and up. (And it is in your Scholastic book orders and book fair.)

Also reviewed by:

Did I miss yours?

Source: Purchased

Read-a-thon Update #2

Just checking in for a bit. I finished reading Shooting the Moon and I'm halfway through How I Live Now. I've read 512 pages so far today. I'm surprised at how quickly the day has gone by! Look for a review of Shooting the Moon a little later.

I hope everyone is having a great time!

North and South

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Book 38 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 5 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I told myself I had to read this before I watched it. And, although it wasn't the quickest or easiest read on the planet, it was well worth it.

North and South is the story of Margaret Hale, the daughter of a country parson who has a crisis of conscience and decides to give up his profession. Because the scandal of leaving the Church of England is so great, the family moves north to Milton (presumed Manchester) where life in an industrial town contrasts so greatly with their idyllic rural life.

Before leaving the South, Margaret is proposed to by her cousin's brother-in-law, whom she turns down because she only considers him a friend. But on arrival to the smoky North, Margaret meets John Thornton, a wealthy cotton manufacturer, whom she despises because of his supposed inferior station.

In the North, Margaret befriends a poor family with a consumptive daughter. She learns much about the struggle between master and worker and even finds herself involved in a strike. These parts, which were written using the local worker's accent, were a little dry and difficult to read. But the social struggle is real and could even be compared and contrasted to those involving unions today.

There is a nice love triangle in this book and I definitely have a new Victorian male to swoon about in Mr. Thornton. But there is a lot of heartache too, much of it revolving around the social and political commentary of the time. This is a classic I am glad to have read and I look forward to reading more of Gaskell's works.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed yours?

Source: Purchased

Read-a-thon Update #1

Well, I finally finished North and South. Woo hoo! Not exactly a fast-paced read, but very good. I'll post a review in the next few hours.

I think I'm going to choose a quick, small book to read now. Probably Shooting the Moon.

I've read for a little over 3 hours and blogged for about 1/2 hour so far. Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Read-a-thon Begins!

Good morning all! I was hoping to have North and South finished before this morning, but I didn't quite make it. So, my first order of business is to finish off the last 150 pages or so.

My husband and kids are going out to the bakery to pick up some breakfast for me, and then they are all going to out for awhile. So, it should be nice and quiet around here.

Good luck to everyone! I'll be checking in every few hours today and can't wait to hear about what everyone is reading.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Read-a-thon Stack

I read five pretty good sized books last read-a-thon, so we'll see what I can actually accomplish this time. Here is the stack:

In the afternoon I'll be checking into a hotel with my friend, and new book blogger, Shanda. We decided it would be fun to make it a girls weekend and enjoy a little peace, without the guilt that comes while reading with kids underfoot.

I've also got a couple of books in transit at the library that I hope come in for tomorrow too. If they do, I'll add to my stack:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Yay for the Read-a-thon! I can't wait!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Challenges Update

Wow, this update is overdue. Back at the beginning of September, I finished J. Kaye's 100+ Reading Challenge. Here were the books I read:

I also finished Carl's RIP VI Challenge reading:

I've recently joined Bart's YA Dystopian Challenge and 3m's Countdown Challenge.

I've also got to finish up the Classics Challenge, Orbis Terrarum, and the New Author Challenge before the end of the year. Many thanks to all the excellent challenge hosts!

I'm excited to be part of the Read-a-thon this weekend and hopefully get closer to finishing some more challenges. Right now I'm reading North and South, which I like, but it is taking awhile. :) Tomorrow I'm hoping to post my stack for the Read-a-thon!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Front and Center

Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Book 8 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Series: Book 3 of 3 (Dairy Queen)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since this book doesn't hit the shelves until Monday, I was thrilled to receive an email yesterday from my library telling me that this book was ready for pickup. I really liked Dairy Queen and I loved The Off Season, and I have been eagerly anticipating this final installment.

This book picks up right where The Off Season left off, with DJ returning to school, hoping that life will get back to normal. It is time for basketball season, and although she knows she needs a scholarship if she is ever going to get off the farm and out of Red Bend, she didn't realize how intense and stressful the recruiting process was going to be in her junior year. She also has a boy, who is a friend, making his intentions clear that he wants to be her boyfriend and she isn't still totally recovered from her first (and last) relationship.

This is really just a book about life. The characters are flawed, and realistically so, but I was rooting for them the whole way. There is humor and poignancy and all the things that make everyday existence so meaningful, and yet so maddening. I don't even like sports or cows, but I enjoy my time in DJ's world.

The whole series is well-written and uplifting. Front and Center is the perfect end to this delightful trilogy. Highly recommended for 8th grade and up.

Also reviewed by:

Source: Library

Friday, October 16, 2009

Shiver

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Book 37 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 7 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Series: Book 1 of 3 (The Wolves of Mercy Falls)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grace Brisbane lives in Minnesota at the edge of the woods. When she was younger, the wolves from the woods pulled her off her tire swing and attacked her. But she was saved by one of them--the wolf with the yellow eyes. And since that time, Grace has watched him intently.

Sam Roth is a teenage werewolf. When the weather gets warm, he shifts into human form. But when it gets cold, he retreats into the woods behind Grace's house. He would give anything to get to know Grace in his human form. But he never has...until now.

I have to admit that I really vacillated between giving the book 3 stars or 4 stars. I loved the setting and thoroughly enjoyed Steifvater's beautiful poetic language. I appreciated that the swearing in this book is relatively minor. There is a lot of sexual tension in this book and while there are no explicit details, it isn't chaste either. I did have a problem with the fact that there were no responsible or trustworthy adults in the book. The chapters alternate between Grace's and Sam's perspectives and that really worked for me. But, the plot was a little bumpy in spots and I felt the resolution was a little cheap. Having said all that, I went with 4 stars because I stayed up late to finish it and I definitely want to read the next book in the series.

Those who like Twilight, especially Team Jacob members, will enjoy this paranormal young adult romance. You can't go wrong with this one if you just want to curl up with a light and fluffy romance on a cold day.

Read the first chapter here.

Also reviewed by:

Let me know if I have missed yours!

Source: Purchased

Monday, October 12, 2009

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Book 36 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 6 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2008)
Book 4 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge

Awards: IBBY Honor List; Booklist Editors' Choice; Horn Book Fanfare; VOYA Award/Honor; Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award/Honors; Newbery Medal; ALA Notable/Best Books; Kirkus Editors Choice; Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award/Honor; Hugo Award; Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel; British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel; Cybils Award

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Neil Gaiman is another one of those authors that I have inexplicably been avoiding. There is some creep factor going on with his stuff and it makes me nervous. But a middle grade book that is a Newbery winner to boot seemed like a safe bet. Plus, my in person book club picked this as our spooky October read. It definitely fit the bill!

The novel opens with the murder of three family members. The baby, however, escapes to a nearby graveyard where he becomes known as Nobody (Bod) Owens. Bod is raised by ghostly adoptive parents and a guardian who is part of both the living and the dead. As Bod grows he begins to be more curious about the world outside. He has an inquisitive nature, and he has been taught well by the centuries of ghosts who live in the graveyard. But the dark force that killed his family is still on the loose with unfinished business...

There were parts of this book that took my breath away. (There was some tear shedding involved at the end.) Gaiman has interesting conceptual ideas, and there were a some passages I wished I had highlighted along the way. However, there were some slow parts and, in my opinion, the novel is too dark/violent/intense for younger children. I will probably wait until middle school to pass this one on to my kids. I also didn't really "get" the illustrations. But overall, this is a great fantasy, deserving of its many accolades.

Also reviewed by:

Let me know if I can add yours!

Source: Purchased

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Cold Comfort Farm

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Book 35 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 4 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cold Comfort Farm is a parody of the works of Mary Webb, Thomas Hardy, and DH Lawrence who wrote novels depicting rural British life in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Flora Poste is the heroine who travels to Sussex to live with her cousins, the Starkadders, after her parents die. She meets the completely oddball family including fairy-like Elfine, sad sack Reuben, and loony Judith. One she settles in, she decides that she is going to "tidy up" the farm including, not only the lives people who live and work there, but also the cows named Feckless, Graceless, Pointless, Aimless, and Big Business.

I liked the beginning and the end, but the middle really dragged for me. There were some moments that I found amusing, but really I think the cover has the funniest stuff on it. To be fair, I think it is hard for a parody of a bunch of authors I haven't read to seem terribly funny--although I did catch quite a lot of the Bronte and Austen references.

The book was written in 1932 and it is set in the future, after the "Anglo-Nicaraguan War" of 1946. This adds an extra strange element to the book with flying machines and videoconferencing definitely out of place, and the London neighborhoods of Mayfair becoming ghetto while the East End becomes fashionable.

The comedy in this book just didn't quite work for me. My overall impression of this book is that it is just...weird.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed your link?

Source: BookMooch

Friday, October 2, 2009

Wings

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Book 5 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Book 34 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 3 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Series: Book 1 of 4

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read many faery books, so this one was a unique to me. Wings is a breezy, quick read about a high school sophomore named Laurel who knows she's always been a bit different. She is a vegan that needs very little food to survive and she has ethereal looks. But she had never really given it much thought until a red bump appeared on her back that turned into so much more.

I started out really liking this book, but then once the paranormal stuff started happening it just didn't flow very well. I knew this book was about faeries, so that wasn't a surprise. But when Laurel and her new friend David realize what Laurel is, their reactions are so calm and muted, it just isn't believable. The characters were underdeveloped and real emotion was lacking for me since the book was really heavy on dialogue. I had some plot issues too. I found the whole confrontation scene at the end to be kind of tacked on and rushed.

I'll be the first to admit that I liked the Twilightish love triangle. That alone might get me to read the next book in the series. Although I can't rave about this book, I did like it. It was fun and entertaining. I would recommend it for girls starting at around age 12.

Also reviewed by:

Did I miss yours?

Source: Library

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Book 4 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Book 2 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Series: Book 3 of 6? (Gallagher Girls)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cammie Morgan and her friends are ready to return to Gallagher Academy as juniors. Macey McHenry's father is running for Vice-President of the United States and while attending their party convention, Macey and Cammie become involved in an attempted kidnapping. As school begins and Cammie and her friends try to figure out who the real threats are coming from and why, they certainly can't do it without breaking a few rules along the way.

This book is little more serious and stressful than the other books and has more of a cliffhanger, but it's still really fun (I think I've used that word about 2,746 times describing these books). I like that the girls seem to be growing up some, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I'm just annoyed I have to wait!

Also reviewed by:

Source: Purchased

Other books in this series: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

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