Mrs. D’s Reads

I realized I’ve haven’t blogged a lot of what I’ve read.  So here’s a smattering of the missed titles of 2009. It’s mostly reading I did for fun, not for kids, but I thought they were worth sharing.

Luxe

by Anna Godberson

Grades 7-12

These are basically the Gossip Girl stories of the late 1800s.  New York socialites navigate a world of rules, intrigues, gossip and betrayal.  An interesting look into that era and probably a fun summer read for teens.

World Without End

by Ken Follett

Adult

I read Pillars of the Earth with great pleasure, and I looked forward to tackling this lengthy sequel.  It delivered on every point.  Follett knows the medieval world and brings it and it’s inhabitants to life on the page. I am an historical fiction junkie, and Follett makes it a worthwhile addiction.

Devil in the White City

by Erik Larson

YA-Adult

This is one of those amazing non-fiction books that is such an compelling story, or in this case two stories, that you can’t put it down.  It’s fascinating to watch both the growth of the Chicago World’s Fair and the growth of one of America’s first serial killers.  Loved it!

French Milk

By Lucy Knisley

YA-Adult

This is a lovely hybrid graphic novel/novel that is really the journal of a mother and daughter who rent an apartment together in Paris for a month.  Lucy is an aspiring comic book artist just graduated from college, and her mom is turning 50. Lucy’s journal is an honest expression of a 22 year-old’s experience, but it captures that person on the cusp of real adulthood in a wonderfully realistic way.  I gave it to my daughter for Easter, she loved it, as did my husband.

The Darcy Connection and Mr. Darcy’s Dream

by Elizabeth Aston

YA-Adult

These are the latest additions to a series of books about the imagined five daughters of Fitwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.  Some of the books, like these two, take on the stories of people  connected with that family.  They are a fun indulgence for people that love the world of Regenecy England and Jane Austen.  A little more romance than I normally enjoy, but well-written.

Ah, the pleasure of spending an afternoon outside reading a good book…

The Last Olympian

Rick Riordan

Grades 5-8

This is a worthy ending to Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series.  Percy and his friends go up against the Titans and evil half-bloods in a final battle royale, and Percy finally learns the truth of the prophecy.  Riordan brings back all your favorite characters, feeds readers another dose of Greek mythology, and gives readers a satisfying ending to Percy’s journey.  He does, however, hint that this will not  be his last Camp Half-Blood series.

Dragonfly Pool

by Eva Ibbotson

Grades 4-8

I am becoming a big fan of Ibbotson’s wonderful storytelling, interesting characters, and unique way of setting both against the background of real turmoil.  This novel tells the story of a rather odd, “progressive” boarding school right at the beginning of WWII.  The children go abroad for a folk dancing festival and find themselves rescuing a recently orphaned prince whose father was killed by the Nazis.  Some great adventure, believable friendships, and characters you actually want to know.  Take a look at some of her other books, too:  Island of the Aunts, Dial-a-Ghost, and Journey to the River Sea, and many others.  She also has some great books for adults and young adults:  Song for Summer, Countess Below Stairs, and The Reluctant Heiress.

Carpe Diem

by Autumn Cornwell

Grades 7-12

This was a fun, if not altogether realistic, read about a teenager on the fast track who goes on the trip of a lifetime to visit her grandmother in Southeast Asia.  On the way, she is seeking a secret about herself, and she learns what it’s like to let go and live in the moment.  Lots of fun!

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

By Mo Willems

Grade k-3

This is another simple but hilarious home run from the man who told you not to get the pigeon a hot dog.  In this story, a naked mole rat asks the question “why can’t we wear clothes?”  This gets him in a whole bunch of trouble with the other naked mole rats, until the head rat suggests that they should be able to do what they want.  Lots of fun and great illustrations.

Scaredy Squirrel At Night

by Melanie Watt

Grades K-3

Another great book with our favorite neurotic squirrel.  This time he enumerates all the reasons he’s afraid of the dark and can’t sleep (including unicorns and polka-dotted monsters).  Watt knows how to tickle funny bones young and old.

Love, Splat

by Ron Scotton

Grades K-3

Funny how we love insecure, neurotic characters, but Scotton’s back with a second installment about Splat the Cat.  In the first one, Splat was afraid to go to school.  This one features a Valentine’s Day theme.  Splat and his friends Spike are both in love with Kitten, but neither is very good at communicating that to her.  Hilarity ensues.

Max’s Dragon

by Kate Banks

Grades 1-4

Kate Banks’ first book about Max, Max’s Words, is one of the most underappreciated books in the library.  It is a brilliant treatise on the power and value of language and words.  In this follow up, Max is searching for rhymes, and in spite of his brothers’ mocking, Max is able to show that words will triumph in the end.  Perfect for budding writers and readers, and brilliantly and subtley done.

I was a little disappointed in the new picture books Scholastic sent us for our book fair, but there were a few things that stood out…

Some Dog

by Mary Casanova

Grades K-2

This is a sweet story about a mellow old dog who starts to doubt his place in the family when an energetic little stray shows up and shows off.  In the end, though, it’s the old dog who saves the day.  Great illustrations.

Purplicious

by Elizabeth Kann

Grades K-2

I was pretty impressed with this follow up to Pinkalicious.  Our heroine still loves pink, but the other girls in her class are teasing her because they say liking black is cooler.  After a week of angst, she meets a girl who shows her how powerful pink can be.

If you Give a Cat a Cupcake

by Laura Numeroff

Grades K-2

There’s nothing new in the pattern here, but these books seem to please kids no matter what the subject is.  Some modern elements here (the cat goes to the gym to work out) and some fun new settings (the beach, a park).

Yes We Can!

by Sam McBratney

Grades K-2

This book has a nice lesson without being too didactic.  The three friends challenge each other to do things, but when one of them fails, the other two laugh.  Pretty soon everyone is cranky and hurt.  The mother kangaroo comes up with a way to make things better. Wonderful expressive illustrations with lots of energy!

Here are some of the things that came through the book fair and will soon be available in the library…

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller

by Sarah Miller

Grades4-10

This is historical fiction in that it tells the story of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher, from Annie’s point of view. However, the events, conflicts, and even much of what Sullivan thought, are well-documented in other accounts, so this feels as much like a memoir as anything. A quick and lively read.

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

by Heather Brewer

Grades 5-YA

We now have the first two of this series in the library. It’s a vampire book, yes, but it’s also a book about a teenage boy trying to cope with loss and growing up and the pain of being different. This isn’t going to be a classic, but it’s a worthwhile read for both boys and girls.

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 5-YA

I think Anderson is writing some great stuff for young adults. Her contemporary fiction (most famously the novel “Speak”) is spot on, and her historical fiction is both compelling and interesting. This novel, the first in what will obviously be a series, tells the story of a Revolutionary War slave who is supposed to be freed when her master dies, but is instead sold off to a cruel Loyalist where she is overworked and beaten. In the meantime, the war is raging and both sides are trying to use her for their own purposes. This was a National Book Award finalist this year. A great read.

Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies

by Erin Dionne

Grades 5-8

I was wary of this one, but the story takes a pretty healthy approach to the topics of teenagers, body image, and beauty. An overweight teen puts up with teasing and the loss of her best friend, but is basically ok with herself until her Aunt enters her in a plus size beauty pageant. She starts to eat healthier and exercise in order to sabotage the pageant and make herself ineligible. In the mean time she also learns some lessons about believing in herself and speaking up for what she wants. A nice story about empowerment.

An a podcast worth noting:

The Moth

http://www.themoth.org/

This one is not for kids, but I have been listening obsessively to all the backlist stories from this wonderful show. The concept is simple: people tell a true story about themselves on stage without notes. Most of the stories run 10-15 minutes. They range from hilarious to heartbreaking. The language can be rough, as can the content, but the stories are compelling.

I have a love/hate relationship with winter in Spokane.  Part of the love is I have an excuse to stay home and read.  Here are a few things I have liked recently…

 

Inkdeath

by Cornelia Funke

Grades 5 & up

I am a huge fan of this trilogy, and I think she closes it out beautifully with Inkdeath.  This has all the great villains, and heroes, and complex characters that made me love Inkheart to begin with.  There is justice, and action, and lots of surprises for readers in the Inkworld.

Uprising

by Margaret Haddix

Grades 5-12

This is a really compelling historical fiction novel about the Mill worker strikes of the early 20th century.  The main characters work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, so the famous fire figures in the plot as well.  However, the real story here is what it was like to be a young woman in a time when the world was opening new possibilities for work, for voting, for college, and for life.  The three women Haddix focuses on are heroines for sure.

 

 Hurricaine

by Terry Trueman

Grades 4-8

This is a survival story that fans of Gary Paulsen can take a sideways step into.  The young protagonist survives a horrible hurricaine and its aftermath with determination and creative problem solving.  A wonderful look into another culture and the human spirit. By the local author of the book Stuck in Neutral, which is also excellent.

Tales of Beedle the Bard

by J.K. Rowling

All ages

Die-hard fans of Harry Potter can get a little fix while they are waiting for the delayed sixth movie to come out this summer.  This is a slim volume of stories, a copy of the stories given to Hermione by Dumbledore. The stories help guide the young heroes through the final two episodes of the series.  It is not a new Harry Potter book, but it is a new glimpse into the mythology of that world.

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Grades 5-adult

I know I already raved about this book, but I am so thrilled that it won the Newbery Award this year.  Gaiman says it is not a kids book, and I think he’s right in the sense that it is a book that is not just for kids.  Beautiful story, beautifully written.

Library Mouse

by David Kirk

Grades K-2

The library mouse writes books, and can’t understand why all the humans think this is such a hard thing to do.  When the librarians invite him to a “meet the author” event, he turns the tables on them and helps them see that we can all be authors.  Some great applications in the classroom.

The End

by David La Rochelle

Grades K-2

This clever book starts with the end, and then gives cause and effect statements all the way to the beginning of the story.  It has a wonderful sense of humor, and some nice possibilities for talking about writing, organization, sequencing, transitions, and lots of other writing skills.

 

Face to Face With Caterpillars

by Darlyne A. Murawski

Grades 2-6

This great series from National Geographic features fantastic photos and wonderfully informative text.  The layout is really appealing, and the facts go beyond just normal non-fiction fare.  There are titles with Grizzlies, Wolves, Sharks, Gorillas, and many others. Kids love them, and so will you.

 

Dinosaur Parade

by Kelly Milner Halls

Grades Pre-K-2

This vibrant picture book by local author Kelly Milner Halls has a wonderful rhyming text that tells kids about the dinosaurs.  The illustrations put the kids in the dinosaur parade, and by doing so show readers how big these dinosaurs were relative to the children.  The kids are wildly diverse, a nice thing to see in a picture book that’s not about diversity.  Kids will have a ball with this one.

I have been reading some pretty random stuff the last month, and not all of it for my K-6 library crowd, but here it is..

Sorcerer of the North

by John Flanagan

Grades 5 & up

This is book 5 in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, finally out in the U.S. Will has his first official assignment as a Ranger, and if he fails, the whole kingdom could fall. Careful, though. This one has a cliffhanger ending and book 6 not out for months.

I, Q: Independence Hall

by Roland Smith

Grades 5-8

Smith is a very popular author amongst middle readers. This new series is about a blended family traveling around the country in an RV on tour. The parents are musicians while the new step-siblings are out solving crimes and helping international spy agencies. Good adventure, cool gadgets, lots of fun!

Catalyst

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 9-12

Anderson knows how to strike a chord with young adults, and how to address taboo subjects in a way that’s smart and interesting. In this novel, a young perfectionist runs headlong into a family whose lives are falling apart. Anderson deals deftly with incest, unexpected grief, and understanding of what compassion really looks like.

Twisted

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 9-12

Anderson again takes on some tough subjects (suicide, bullying, date rape, internet gossip, emotional abuse) with a skilled hand. This time her protagonist is a boy, Tyler, who has a reputation for being a screw-up because he vandalized the school. He’s paying for his crimes over and over by the way he is treated by his family and peers. However, the dream girl starts to pay attention to him, and things are looking up until someone posts some unseemly photos of her, and Tyler gets blamed. I am still not sure I liked or believed the resolution, but I still enjoyed the book.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

Grades 8-adult

This novel has a fascinating premise: imagine a world where the thoughts of all males (people and animals) can be heard by everybody else. In Ness’ novel people walk around hearing each other’s “noise” all the time, however, nobody can hear the noise of women. When one boy, Todd, is about to become a man, he discovers the secret of what really happened to the women in his town, and he tries to escape. This is a great adventure, with a really thought-provoking and original premise. Warning: it’s also book one in a series with a cliffhanger ending.

Tender Morsels

by Margo Lanagan

Grades 9-adult

I generally love novels that feel a bit like fairy tales, or at least that have some of those elements. This one had that appeal, but in the way the darkest, original versions of fairy tales appeal. A young woman who has been brutalized in many ways is “given” another world to live in, a world that is her dream in many ways. However, as she raises her two daughters there, the real world keeps encroaching on her world, and eventually the two come together again. There is a lot of darkness in this book, and at times it was achingly sad, but the characters and story are compelling and rich.

Octavian Nothing: Kingdom of the Waves

by M. T. Anderson

Grades 9-Adult

I read and liked the first book of Octavian Nothing, which won the National Book Award a couple years back. I liked this one even better. Octavian Nothing is a Revolutionary War-era slave who is raised to believe he is a prince. However, this fabrication is an experiment created by a college of scientists to test the mental and emotional abilities of the slave races and the idea of Tabula Rasa. This book continues Octavian’s story as he joins the Loyalist forces and tries to discover more about his past and parentage. Anderson has a created a richly written historical novel, with some wonderfully original stories about some of the lesser known participants in the Revolutionary War. A challenging but worthwhile read

The Last Lecture

by Randy Pausch

Grades 6-adult

This is not my normal fare, but I bought this on the recommendation of several friends, and I’m really glad a did. Pausch was a smart, insightful guy with a some incredible clarity about his own life and death. I admit I cried whenever he talked about his children growing up without a father, but not because it was maudlin, because Pausch said things that connected in a universal way. His actual “Last Lecture” is on You Tube, and watching it made me like Pausch and the book even more.

To Kill A Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Grades 6-Adult

My 8th grade daughter just read this book for the first time. It challenged her, especially those first fifty pages, but once she was deep into the book, she was hooked. She rooted for Tom, couldn’t put it down during the trial, and loved the ending. For her, Scout is the hero of the book as much as Atticus. I loved hearing her perspective on this beloved novel. If you haven’t read it in awhile, it might be a timely classic to pick back up.

Road to Oz

by Kathleen Krull

Grades 3-5

There are few biographies of this beloved author written for this age group.  How wonderful that Kathleen Krull would be the one to write this engaging picture book biography.  Kevin Hawkes’ illustrations are a great fit for images of Baum’s life, both the realistic parts and the flights of imagination.

As Good As Anybody

by Richard Michelson

Grades 2-4

This wonderful book tells the stories of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Herschel, a Jewish Rabbi.  They were friends, and were both working for civil rights at the same time. This book addresses both their differences, their common experiences with discrimination, and their work together for tolerance in America.

Helen Keller: Her Life in Pictures

by George Sullivan

Grades 4-6

This is an interesting take on Helen Keller’s life, and one of the first I’ve seen that really shows her as a complex, interesting human being beyond her amazing accomplishments.  The photos really lend her a humanity and personality many biographies miss.

Sisters & Brothers

by Steve Jenkins

Grades 2-5

This is another of Jenkins’ wonderful books about the natural world.  This one examines some amazing facts about how siblings interact in the natural world.  It ranges from animals who stay allies with brothers or sisters throughout their lives, to species who eat their unlucky siblings as soon as they are born.  Fascinating, and wonderfully illustrated.

Bees, Snails & Peacock Tails

by Betsy Franco

Grades K-3

This is a great concept book, illustrated by Steve Jenkins.  It looks at patterns and shapes as they are found in nature.  Good informative text and beautiful illustrations.

Here are some books from the book fair that look pretty good to me!

If You’re Happy and You Know It (Jungle Edition)

by James Warhola

Grades K-2

Totally fun and interactive, this humourous version of the classic song was a hit with Kindergarten this week. Some silly additions include “scratch your fur” and “beat your chest.” Big Fun!

Starry Safari

by Linda Ashman

Grades K-2

This is a fun rhyming book about a girl on a nightime safari with african animals. In the end, the safari ranger comes and tucks her back into bed. Nice surprise ending and energetic illustrations.

The Rabbit and the Turtle

by Eric Carle

Grades K-4

Masterful illustrator Eric Carle lends his talents here to several of Aesop’s fables. The one-page retellings are short but well-done, and Carle’s colorful illustrations speak volumes.

Smelly Locker: Silly Dilly School Songs

by Alan Katz

Grades 2-5

These silly songs about school set to the tunes of familiar songs is a hit with readers who like humor. David Catrow’s illustrations are completely over the top goofy and a perfect fit for the songs in this book. Look for other titles like Take Me Out of the Bathtub and I’m Still Here In the Bathtub.

Into the Volcano

by Don Wood

Grades 4-6

The Graphic Novels in our library have gone through the roof in terms of popularity, and this adventure volume is sure to be a hit. Two brothers on an outdoor adventure get more than they bargained for when the local volcano begins to erupt. The author is award-winning artist Don Wood (of Don and Audrey Wood.)

Treasure Fever

by Andy Griffiths

Grades 3-5

Hilarious adventure when an entire elementary school starts to hunt for buried treasure, inside the school! For lovers of any wacky school stories where they cross over into the absurd.

Smiles To Go

by Jerry Spinelli

Grades 5-8

Will Tuppence is a normal teenage kid with friends, hobbies, and an annoying little sister. but things start to change when he suddenly begins to get worried about things like proton decay and family tragedies. Spinelli is a master, and his ability to connect his stories with kids is undeniable.

The Mother Daughter Book Club

by Heather Vogel Frederick

Grades 5-8

The moms and daughters in this middle school novel start a book club to read together, but it ends up being a place for them to all grow, connect, and ask themselves what the characters in the book would do. This series has gotten great reviews and a minor cult following.

True Stories of The Second World War

by Paul Dowswell

Grades 5-up

As the greatest generation leaves us, these are stories our kids still need to know. Some are famous events and battles, others are more personal experiences in the war. Kids who like to read stories that are the real deal, will love this collection.

Every Soul a Star

by Wendy Mass

Grades 5-8

Several people come together in a remote campground to witness a total eclipse of the sun. However, the story of their meeting, told from each of the young people’s perspectives, is about more than a cosmic event, it’s about knowing who you are and having the courage to be that person. Good intermediate coming of age stuff.

Looking for Miza

by Juliana Hatkoff, et. al.

Grades 3-6

This non-fiction book about a baby gorilla is another heartwarming, true story from the people who brought us Owen and Mzee. The rangers in Botswana were tracking Miza’s family when she and her mother disappeared. When she was found again, her mother was missing and Miza was ill. But between the gorilla family and their human helpers, Miza is doing fine now. Wonderfull photos and fascinating story.

When a Monster is Born

by Sean Taylor

Grades K-3

This book has a nice pattern and a great sense of humor.  Kids love it and so do I!  Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Would I Ever Lie to You?

by Caralyn Buehner

Grades 1-3

The rhyming text of this book works nicely with the content.  All of us have had an older sibling, cousin, uncle, or somebody that told us stuff that may or may not have been true.  This book addresses that in a humorous way with a surprise ending.  Fun illustrations. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

The Cheese

by Margie Palatini

Grades 1-3

This book plays on the song “The Farmer in the Dell,” but in this version “The Cheese Stands Alone.”  Nice progressive story with the cheese, rat, cat, dog, etc. each playing their part.  Fun, humorous language in typical Palatini fashion.  Love the illustrations with all the hidden words incorporated in. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Cha Cha Chimps

by Julia Durango

Grades K-2

Kids easily recognize this as a play off of the monkeys jumping on the bed.  The rhymes are fun and kids love to come in on the chorus.  Nice, playful language. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Chester

by Melanie Watt

Grades 1-3

If you like Scaredy Squirrel, try this other set of books by Melanie Watt as well.  Chester is a bossy cat who hijacks the story author Watt is trying to tell.  Chester uses a red marker to overide the author’s direction.  Kids love the humor and the illustrations. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

 

The Chimpanzees I Love

by Jane Goodall

Grades 3-5

I am reading a lot of Jane Goodall these days, and this book for children is a nice combination of autobiography and non-fiction science.  The photos are beautiful, and Goodall is a wonderful storyteller.

Chimpanzee Family Book

by Jane Goodall

Grades 3-5

This one repeats some of the information of The Chimpanzees I Love, but focuses more on information about the chimps themselves than on Goodall’s life with them.  More great photos and engaging writing.

Storm: The Infinity Code

by E.L. Young

Grades 4-8

This is a geek-fest of gadgets, science, and spy kids adventure.  Some gifted students in London form an organization called STORM to try and use their unique talents to help the world.  After an initial success, they discover an urgent, and more personal, need, and they spring into action.  Fun adventure, good villains, lots of interesting science.

Extras

by Scott Westerfield

Grades 6-12

This fourth in Westerfield’s Uglies series follows a young Ugly after the end of the Pretty-time.  Westerfield does a great job of transitioning his invented society from the previous rules to this new order of things, and his characters remain interesting and relatable.  Read the other three first, though.

Pillars of the Earth

by Ken Follett

Adult

I finally read this historical fiction novel which has experienced a recent resurgence due to Oprah’s book club. It’s got some fascinating information about the middle ages and the technology of cathedral building, as well as some compelling characters and drama.  If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read this. I have the sequel, too, but I think I’ll save it for winter break!

 

Things Hoped For

by Andrew Clements

Grades 6-12

This is a sort of sequel to Things Not Seen, as Bobby shows up again as a character, but you don’t need to read the first to read this one. Gwen is living with her grandfather in New York City as she studies music. When her grandpa mysteriously disappears one day shortly before Gwen’s college auditions, she must deal with the stress of holding things together while he is gone. A nice coming of age story even if the resolution about her grandpa is a little weird.

Young at Heart

Movie

I was very moved and inspired by this documentary about a community choir for seniors (average age 80 years old) who sing rock and roll songs. The people in this group are full of spirit and energy, but the aging process keeps rearing its ugly head. My 13 year-old daughter loved it so much that she put the video of one of their songs on her my space page.

The Usual Rules

by Joyce Maynard

Grades 7-12

A girl’s mother is killed in the Twin Towers during 9/11, and suddenly her place in the world is up for grabs. She tries out living with a dad she hardly knows and works very hard to become a different person. Soon she finds her way back to herself and begins to discover how to pick up the pieces. A rare look at a young person struggling with a very personal portion of a national tragedy.

Paper Towns

By John Green

Grades7-12

This Michael Printz Award winner (Looking for Alaska) has created an interesting mystery here around the disappearance of a girl shortly before her graduation. The next door neighbor boy, who has had a crush on and connection to her his whole life, believes she has left a breadcrumb trail for him to find her. Green’s insights into the young adult mind are astute and honest.

I am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak

Grades 9-12

This is a great novel from the author of one of my favorites: The Book Thief. In this one, Ed, an unmotivated almost 20 year-old, starts getting playing cards in the mail that have people’s addresses on them. He has to go to these addresses and “fix” whatever is wrong with them by delivering a “message.” The process of being the messenger jolts Ed out of his lethargy and he starts really living his life. Definitely for YA.

Secrets of Rundoon

By Dave Barry &

Grades 4-8

The third installment of the Peter Pan prequels that started with Peter and the Starcatchers sustains the excitement, as well as the gravity, of the earlier books. The villains are still scary, the heroes still worthy, but the authors also weave in Peter’s growing sense of ‘otherness’ as the kids around him grow up and he does not. A fun read.

Tigerheart

by Peter David

Grades 5-12

This retelling of the Peter Pan story turns it a bit on its ear, revealing the shelfish, childishness of Peter, and contrasting it with the earnest quest of a boy who comes to Neverland asking for help. There is both a good adventure and a deeper journey here. Read it at whichever level makes sense to you.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

Grades 7-adult

I have always been a fan of Alexie’s short fiction, and this novel reads a lot like many of those short stories that made me a fan. There are incredible moments in this novel, and it is through those moments that the story of both the individual and his community is revealed. Great stuff, and very deserving of the National Book Award it won last year.

The Road

by Cormac MacCarthy

Adult

I have tried to tackle this book several times in the last year. Some of the best readers I know said it’s a must read, so I persisted. I liked it, but it’s not an enjoyable read. This is bleak, post-apocalyptic, sometimes horrifying stuff. But the core of it is a story of love between a father and son, and that core got me through the parts I didn’t want to face. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! But understand this is not pleasure reading.