子供の健やかな成長を願う五月人形・雛人形 » 収納

収納

雛人形に、正しい飾り方はあるのでしょうか。
ひなまつりは3月3日です。なのでだいたい1週間前くらいから飾りつけをするものなのかなと思っていました。しかし人によってはもっと早く飾っていたり、小学生までしか飾らないという人もいますよね。なので地域性にもよると思うのですが、雛人形の飾り方や保管方法は何か決まりがあるのか見ていきましょう。

雛人形はわりと早くから飾り始めます。節分を過ぎた立春の頃から飾り始めます。なのでわりと早くから飾るものなんだと思いました。飾り始めの時期で多いのは、この立春の頃から、2月の半ば頃にかけてです。なぜ立春の日かと言うと、この日が昔で言う1年の始まりだったからだと言います。でも、1週間前くらいならギリギリセーフみたいですよ。片付けの日も明確な決まりはないようです。

婚期が遅れるとの言い伝えで、ひなまつりが終わったらすぐに片付けにとりかかる人も多いです。ただ、しまうのはいいのですが、急いでしまってお顔に傷などつかないように気をつけてあげて下さい。雛人形を売っているお店ではしまう時に顔を保護してくれるカバーを用意してくれるお店もあります。無臭の防虫剤などを入れてしまっておくのもいいでしょう。

湿気に弱いので、できるだけ天気のいい日に丁寧にしまうようにしましょう。大切なお人形は、大切にしまっておけばまた来年もいいお顔でいてくれます。中には4月中頃まで飾る人もいます。

子供の健やかな成長を願う五月人形・雛人形 » 健やかに

健やかに

雛人形を初めて飾った時、小さかった私は号泣したそうです。
その時の様子はもちろん覚えていませんが、それでも末っ子である私が小学校を卒業する頃くらいまでは毎年飾られていましたね。それから一切お人形を見ていないのでどうなったかはわかりません。もしかすると知らないうちに姉達の子供用に受け継がれているかもしれません。親が子を思う気持ちなのに、泣いちゃってごめんねと思っています。

雛人形は、親が子を思う気持ちが詰まったお人形です。子を持つ親にとって、自分の子供が健やかに成長するのが一番の願いです。なので、お人形さんが守ってくれるようにという特別な思いが込められたお人形なのです。自分が子供の時はわかりませんが、自分が親になった時にその気持ちがわかります。

雛人形は、それぞれにお顔が違います。なので選び方としては、自分が可愛いと思うお人形から選んで大丈夫です。そこから費用と相談したり、飾るスペースを考えたりしながら選んで行きます。元々は母親の実家から嫁入り道具として引き継ぐもののようですが、自分が親になった時に改めて買い直す方もいるようですよ。

家に雛人形を飾った時は、私よりも祖母が喜んでいましたね。そうして祖母から母へ、母から子へ受けつがれてきた心なのです。特別な思いが込められているお人形なので、保存方法にも注意しておきましょう。大切に思えるお人形を選んだ方が、自然と扱いも丁寧になりそうです。

子供の健やかな成長を願う五月人形・雛人形 » 何歳まで

何歳まで

五月人形は何歳まで飾るのでしょう。
この人形は、そもそも男の子の成長を願って飾るものです。なので基本的には大きくなればその役目を果たしたと言えます。ただ考え方なので飾りたいと思う年齢まで飾られるのがいいと思います。同居の場合は特に両家の考えがあるでしょうから、話し合って決められるといいと思います。また誰が贈るかについては、雛人形と同様に、母親の実家が用意することが多いようですね。

息子さんが何人かいらっしゃる場合は、立派なのは一人分でもいいのですが、できればもう少しコンパクトな人形を人数分用意しておける方がいいですね。お兄ちゃんが生まれた時に五月人形を買う方もいるでしょう。そうすると後で生まれた弟が寂しがるかもしれません。ただ費用とスペースの問題がありますから、兄弟分の小さなものを用意しておくといいのですね。

このように、雛人形と五月人形には様々な共通点があります。これが正解と言うのがありませんので、ご家庭の考えで飾られるのがいいと思います。大切なのはお人形に込められた思いです。なのでお子さんが成長しきった時にお役目を終えたとして供養される人もいます。それから、湿気に弱いので片づけかたに注意するという点も共通していると思います。

親が子供の成長を願う気持ち、それは代々受け継がれていくものです。気持ちを受け継ぐか人形を受け継ぐかは考え方しだい。大事なのは、何を思ってその人形を飾るかなのです。

子供の健やかな成長を願う五月人形・雛人形 » 入れ替わり

入れ替わり

五月人形は、男の子のいるご家庭に飾られます。
なので娘さんと息子さんが両方いらっしゃるご家庭では、ひなまつりに雛人形を。子供の日に五月人形を飾ることになります。また兄弟の数が多くなればなるほど、お人形の数も増えると思います。なのでお子さんが多いご家庭は賑やかな節句になりそうです。では雛人形と五月人形を飾る時期についてもう一度確認していきましょう。

雛人形はだいたい2月の初旬から3月の中頃まで飾ります。飾りつけがもっとギリギリになる時もありますし、片付けの時期も地域やご家庭によってひなまつり直後だったり、4月中頃までだったりします。
五月人形はだいたい3月の中旬頃から子供の日まで飾ります。なのでおひな様の片付けをすると同時に飾りつけても問題ありません。

男の子の今後の健やかな成長を祈って飾られるお人形です。これは雛人形のようにいつまでに片付けるという言われも特にない様子。ただずっと出しっぱなしにしておくものでもないので、子供の日を過ぎて時間がある時に片付けするのがいいそうです。

お人形についてはそのご家族や地域、お人形屋さんによって考え方に違いが見られます。なので自分が納得する方法を選ぶのが一番です。ひとり一体という考え方もありますし、先祖代々受け継ぐという考え方もあります。重要なのは行い方ではなく、人形に込めた気持ちなのではないでしょうか。強く、たくましい男の子に成長してほしいものです。

Libri Dilectio

13 March 2012

Book Review: Froi of the Exiles

Froi of the Exiles, Melina Marchetta (Gr 9+)

Coming 13 March 2012 – TODAY!
Candlewick. Review copy provided by publisher.

“Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home…or so he believes. Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been taken roughly and lovingly in hand by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper with a warrior’s discipline. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds in its surreal royal court. Soon he must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad princess in this barren and mysterious place. It is in Charyn that he will discover there is a song sleeping in his blood . . . and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.” 

Remember how much I loved Finnikin of the Rock? No? Then click the link or just scroll down a little ways and remind yourself, because woah did I ever LOVE that book! Finnikin was my gateway into Melina Marchetta fangirlishness, and Froi of the Exiles has cemented her as one of my all time favorite authors (so did Jellicoe Road, more on that another time).

Froi’s story picks up a few years after Finnikin’s left off. The Lumaterans are back home in their own country and starting to rebuild. There’s a lot of hurt left for this country and a divide between those who were in exile and those who were trapped inside. Froi has found a place for himself with the Guard and has started to really feel like a Lumateran. He has decided to devote his life to protecting Queen Isaboe, Queen’s Consort Finnikin, and their young daughter. Froi has also decided to become a character I love instead of one I don’t actually like much at all. He has grown and developed into a main character to root for, one whose story will haunt readers.

Elsewhere in the world, trouble is brewing. The nearby country of Charyn, under the rule of a mad king, is in the grips of a disastrous curse, one almost more devastating than the one on Lumatere. The women of Charyn have all been barren for eighteen years. The Charynites have started to leave their wasted homeland and have formed an uneasy truce with the Lumateran Monts. Now the Lumaterans are faced with exiles living in their land and must decide whether or not to help them. Queen Isaboe believes the best way to deal with Charyn is to send Froi in to the country undercover to assassinate their king. I love the way Melina Marchetta deals with issues of tolerance, refugees, and many other modern day topics. She makes readers think about contemporary themes in a fantastical world.

Once again, Marchetta has woven an impossibly intricate, beautiful, gut wrenching story that will pull readers in and not let go. Even at 593 pages (WOW) this book is too short. Readers will find themselves wanting to know everything about Froi, a character they may not have even liked in Finnikin of the Rock, and wondering what to make of Quintana of Charyn. This book has an impressive cast of characters and is told from multiple points of view. Fans of Finnikin of the Rock will be happy to see all their old favorite characters return and to get to know them even better through their own narration. Readers will race through the book and be hugely disappointed when it ends! Seriously, Quintana of Charyn doesn’t come out until when?! It doesn’t even have a US pub. date yet?! GAH! Hurry out and get a copy of Froi of the Exiles – then you can join me in desperately wishing for Quintana of Charyn to come out…or I guess we could all just go re-read Finnikin and Froi.

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If you like Froi of the Exiles, you might also like:
Fire, Kristin Cashore
The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Rae Carson 
Plain Kate, Erin Bow

12 March 2012

Book Review: Born Wicked

Born Wicked, Jessica Spotswood
(Gr 7+)
Putnam Juvenile, February 7th, 2012. Review copy provided by publisher.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship–or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word… especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate stars scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood — not even from each other.”

The Cahill sisters are witches in a time when being a witch, or even a strong woman, means life imprisonment or death. Their world is controlled by the Brotherhood, an all male religious order that imposes strict rules of conduct. Cate Cahill has been trying to supress her magic and that of her sisters for their own protection, but the girls are getting stronger. With their mother gone, and a new governess in the house, and only a few months before Cate must either announce her engagement or join the Sisterhood (the Brotherhood’s female counterpart) the stage is set for some serious historical supernatural drama!

Cate is an interesting character. She seems to want nothing more than to disappear into the world she lives in. She doesn’t want anyone to notice her, or her sisters, but she can’t help but stand out. She is strong, brave, and caring. I loved her instantly. Cate’s journey throughout the novel is one that will keep readers turning pages and longing for the sequel to come out faster! Her sisters were slightly less developed characters, but still intriguing. Maura, the middle sister, was particularly interesting to me. She’s a very angry character and has complicated relationships with those around her. She seems to be desperate for love and acceptance. I’d love to get a little (or a lot) of her perspective in the next novel.

Jessica Spotswood has created a compelling, interesting world. Her United States was colonized, but never pulled away from England. The big city is called New London, the overall feel of the place is very British, and magic permeates everything (whether the Brotherhood wants it to or not). This is a great book for teens who enjoy historical fantasy and romance.
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If you like Born Wicked, you might also like:
Chime, Franny Billingsley
Prophecy of the Sisters, Michelle Zink
Clockwork Angel,Cassandra Clare

29 February 2012

Itty Bitty Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
(Gr 9+)
Dutton Juvenile, January 10th, 2012. Reviewed from purchased copy.

“Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs… for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.”

 Review in 75 words or less:

John Green has done the impossible – written a beautiful, hopeful, never sappy book about teens with cancer. His characters are interesting, loveable, and real. Readers of all ages will take Hazel and Gus into their hearts and keep them there. The only remotely negative thing to say about this accomplished novel is it is dangerous to read it in public. It’s early to say, but this my pick for the next Printz award. (74)

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If you like The Fault in Our Stars, you might also like:
Looking for Alaska, John Green
Please Ignore Vera Dietz, A.S. King
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, Francisco X. Stork

28 February 2012

Book Review: Finnikin of the Rock

Finnikin of the Rock, Melina Marchetta
(Gr 8+)
Candlewick Press, February 9, 2010. Reviewed from purchased copy.

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps. In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin’s unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems — and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.”

This was my first experience with Melina Marchetta, but it will not be the last. Actually, it opened a floodgate of fan-girlishness that has made her one of my all time favorite authors. Marchetta’s voice is so unique – it flows over the reader so effortlessly that it makes reading her books a true leisure activity. I fell incredibly easily into Finnikin’s world. I had (and still have) a very vivid picture of the land, the people, and the cities in my imagination. Marchetta world builds in a way that any author would be jealous of, so that the reader is totally unaware of it. This was the sort of book that took over my imagination so completely it made it difficult to read a new book once I’d finished. Which, let’s face it, is an awesome problem to have.

The characters who populate this land are diverse, interesting, and will work their way into readers’ hearts. Finnikin is everything you could want in a main character – he’s brave, stubborn, angry, and loyal. Readers will be instantly drawn to him. The secondary characters are abundant, but all of them have their own personalities and places in Marchetta’s story. I was just as attached to some of them as I was to Finnikin (Travanion, Sir Topher, Evanjalin!). The only secondary character who I could never make my mind up about was Froi. Do I hate him or love him? I really wasn’t sure until I read Froi of the Exiles (review to come), which I’m sure is exactly what Marchetta intended.

This novel will pull readers in and force them to keep turning pages. I absolutely loved it and recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys fantasy, strong characters, and amazing world building. I just can’t say enough good things about Melina Marchetta!

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If you like Finnikin of the Rock, you might also like:
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein
The Demon King, Cinda Williams Chima
The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner

24 December 2011

The Thirteen Days of Doctor Who: Growing Up with the Doctor

Today, we’re doing things a little differently here at Libri Dilectio. In honor of the holiday and the best television show EVER (inarguable), I’m participating in the 13 Days of Doctor Who Blog Hop! This is the final day, so for those of you who’ve been following the hop since the beginning, you’re in the home stretch! Soon you’ll find out who won that highly coveted series 6 box set! Thank you to Erica O’Rourke for hosting and inviting me to play too!

I also have a guest hanging out at at LD with me today, my Dad, Mark! I thought no post about me growing up with Doctor Who would be complete without the man who started it all. You may remember my dad from his previous guest appearance, reviewing I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. Today he will be wearing TARDIS blue and I’ll be in traditional black. Here we go!
Matt (2) and Becky (4) – Doctor Who babies 1989
The Doctor has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. At the age of 4, I rocked a homemade (thanks mom) mini Doctor Who scarf. My brother, 2 years old at the time, had a matching one. We drank out of Doctor Who mugs when we wanted hot chocolate after playing in the snow, and we both referred to the show as “Doctor Wubbedy” since we sang the theme song, “wubbedy wub wubbedy wub…” Yes, we were cool children.
My dad, who was always available on Saturday mornings to watch The Smurfs or Mighty Mouse, has always been a HUGE Doctor Who fan.  Dad here, actually my first exposure to the Doctor was in 1972 at the house of a friend.  His parents were watching an episode with Jon Pertwee as the Doctor.  To explain the show to me they said, the Doctor was like James Bond from outer space who had a spaceship that was bigger on the inside than on the outside (honestly, it was one of the worst explanations I have ever heard of the show).  My response was, “Let’s go hang out somewhere else and talk about girls.”
 
Six years later, I found myself in graduate school in Ann Arbor, in an apartment all by myself, and trying to get through the MBA program at the University of Michigan.  At that time, WTVS, the Detroit PBS station, ran Doctor Who on Saturday nights.  I started watching the show in reruns and found Tom Baker to be a wonderful Time Lord.  He made you believe that he was more than human.
Okay, so you haven’t always been a fan, but for a long time, as long as I’ve been alive. I remember watching old episodes of Doctor Who on PBS with you and not understanding what was going on. I liked Sarah JaneSmith best of all the assistants (as they used to be called) and Tom Baker was my Doctor. Obviously, I was a preschooler who wore his scarf! I’ve never hidden behind a couch to avoid the Daleks, but I knew that you didn’t want to mess with those trash bin aliens!
In 1983, I found myself managing the construction of a suburban Chicago cable TV system for Westinghouse Electric.  My plant manager was a big Whovian and every Monday morning, he would come into the office and want to talk about the episode shown on WTTW Chicago late on Sunday night.  It was him who really opened up the world of Doctor Who for me.  Peter Davison was the current Doctor Who or “Tristan” as we called him having been earlier fans of “All Creatures Great and Small.” 
When you were born, Colin Baker had become the Doctor and the show was starting to unravel. Not that that was my fault or anything. I was just born under a bad BBC star or something. Something like that. Anyway, John Nathan Turner was producing the show and the stories were weak, disjointed and sometimes just plain bad, but that didn’t stop me.  I was still looking forward to bringing my children along for a ride in the TARDIS one day.  When you were two, Sylvester McCoy became the Doctor and the shows got worse, although McCoy was a very convincing Doctor.  Then, just as it looked like Becky was ready to join the team, the end came.  Abruptly.  No final episode, no tying up loose ends.  Nothing.  It was 1989 and it was over before it had begun.
Becky and Dad, Whovian Love!
And from then on, we waited. Well you waited. I had pretty much forgotten about the show. In 1994 I found one way to fill the gap: I discovered the Doctor Who series novels and started reading them.  Those novels were what the show should have always been.  The Doctor became a more dark and lonely person, feeling the pressure of keeping the universe together and often losing patience with it.  One of my favorite lines from one of the books was, “I’m what monsters have nightmares about,” which was later used for David Tennant in “The Girl in the Fireplace” episode.  The made-for-tv movie came out in 1996 and the less said about that, the better, although I still think Paul McGann was superb and would have been a great continuing Doctor. You had high hopes for the TV movie, but sadly it just didn’t grab an audience like the BBC wanted and the Doctor went back into hibernation for another 10 years. 
Fast forward to 2005 – another job, but back home in the Chicago area.  I was traveling to Europe every now and then for business.  It was September 13th (a Tuesday – yes, I keep track of these things as any real Time Lord would).  I was lying in my bed in the hotel in London watching the BBC when a promotional spot came on.  It was a shot panning across a wall.  The voice over said, “He’s back.  And it’s about time.” And the shot pans over to the TARDIS.  WHAT??  I had not read that they had started shooting the show again!!  
The next day, I ran over to Tower Records on Piccadilly and bought the first two DVDs of the new series without any way to play them.  I figured out how to watch them on my company laptop, but that only works five times and then the DVD drive gets hosed.  When I got home, I bought a multi-region DVD player so I could watch the shows on my HDTV.  The show was just what it should have been years ago.  It had picked up the darker and more serious elements of the books, but kept the old Tom Baker humor (“Nine hundred years of time and space and I’ve never been slapped by someone’s mother.”).  I honestly could not wait to reintroduce the kids to the show.  But that would have to wait until they got home for Thanksgiving.
In 2005, during my sophomore year of college, I brought my boyfriend (who is now my husband) home to meet my family. He was still at the point that he did pretty much anything my family asked of him, including watching Rose, the first episode of the new season of Doctor Who. I was skeptical of the new reboot, but, after one episode, we were both hooked. Maybe that was the first sign that we were meant to get married.
My dad and I (and my brother, mother, husband, friends) are devoted Whovians. We remember the lines, the episodes, the characters, and the music. Doctor Who is a part of my family, and one of the only shows we really enjoy as an entire family. We’re all loving Matt Smith’s Doctor and will miss the Ponds when they bow out at the end of this upcoming season. We’ll all be watching tomorrow for The Doctor the Widow and the Wardrobe, and you should too!

To enter the grand prize giveaway, please leave a comment with your name and email address. You may enter once at every stop on the blog tour, for a total of thirteen chances. The Grand Prize giveaway is limited to the US and Canada, due to regional restrictions on the DVD. Individual contests will close at the discretion of the author, but the Grand Prize contest will accept entries on any site until midnight CST on December 24th. The winner will be posted HERE on December 25th, and be notified via email.



Libri Dilectio: Book Review: Froi of the Exiles

13 March 2012

Book Review: Froi of the Exiles

Froi of the Exiles, Melina Marchetta (Gr 9+)

Coming 13 March 2012 – TODAY!
Candlewick. Review copy provided by publisher.

“Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home…or so he believes. Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been taken roughly and lovingly in hand by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper with a warrior’s discipline. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds in its surreal royal court. Soon he must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad princess in this barren and mysterious place. It is in Charyn that he will discover there is a song sleeping in his blood . . . and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.” 

Remember how much I loved Finnikin of the Rock? No? Then click the link or just scroll down a little ways and remind yourself, because woah did I ever LOVE that book! Finnikin was my gateway into Melina Marchetta fangirlishness, and Froi of the Exiles has cemented her as one of my all time favorite authors (so did Jellicoe Road, more on that another time).

Froi’s story picks up a few years after Finnikin’s left off. The Lumaterans are back home in their own country and starting to rebuild. There’s a lot of hurt left for this country and a divide between those who were in exile and those who were trapped inside. Froi has found a place for himself with the Guard and has started to really feel like a Lumateran. He has decided to devote his life to protecting Queen Isaboe, Queen’s Consort Finnikin, and their young daughter. Froi has also decided to become a character I love instead of one I don’t actually like much at all. He has grown and developed into a main character to root for, one whose story will haunt readers.

Elsewhere in the world, trouble is brewing. The nearby country of Charyn, under the rule of a mad king, is in the grips of a disastrous curse, one almost more devastating than the one on Lumatere. The women of Charyn have all been barren for eighteen years. The Charynites have started to leave their wasted homeland and have formed an uneasy truce with the Lumateran Monts. Now the Lumaterans are faced with exiles living in their land and must decide whether or not to help them. Queen Isaboe believes the best way to deal with Charyn is to send Froi in to the country undercover to assassinate their king. I love the way Melina Marchetta deals with issues of tolerance, refugees, and many other modern day topics. She makes readers think about contemporary themes in a fantastical world.

Once again, Marchetta has woven an impossibly intricate, beautiful, gut wrenching story that will pull readers in and not let go. Even at 593 pages (WOW) this book is too short. Readers will find themselves wanting to know everything about Froi, a character they may not have even liked in Finnikin of the Rock, and wondering what to make of Quintana of Charyn. This book has an impressive cast of characters and is told from multiple points of view. Fans of Finnikin of the Rock will be happy to see all their old favorite characters return and to get to know them even better through their own narration. Readers will race through the book and be hugely disappointed when it ends! Seriously, Quintana of Charyn doesn’t come out until when?! It doesn’t even have a US pub. date yet?! GAH! Hurry out and get a copy of Froi of the Exiles – then you can join me in desperately wishing for Quintana of Charyn to come out…or I guess we could all just go re-read Finnikin and Froi.

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If you like Froi of the Exiles, you might also like:
Fire, Kristin Cashore
The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Rae Carson 
Plain Kate, Erin Bow

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Libri Dilectio: Book Review: Born Wicked

12 March 2012

Book Review: Born Wicked

Born Wicked, Jessica Spotswood
(Gr 7+)
Putnam Juvenile, February 7th, 2012. Review copy provided by publisher.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship–or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word… especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate stars scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood — not even from each other.”

The Cahill sisters are witches in a time when being a witch, or even a strong woman, means life imprisonment or death. Their world is controlled by the Brotherhood, an all male religious order that imposes strict rules of conduct. Cate Cahill has been trying to supress her magic and that of her sisters for their own protection, but the girls are getting stronger. With their mother gone, and a new governess in the house, and only a few months before Cate must either announce her engagement or join the Sisterhood (the Brotherhood’s female counterpart) the stage is set for some serious historical supernatural drama!

Cate is an interesting character. She seems to want nothing more than to disappear into the world she lives in. She doesn’t want anyone to notice her, or her sisters, but she can’t help but stand out. She is strong, brave, and caring. I loved her instantly. Cate’s journey throughout the novel is one that will keep readers turning pages and longing for the sequel to come out faster! Her sisters were slightly less developed characters, but still intriguing. Maura, the middle sister, was particularly interesting to me. She’s a very angry character and has complicated relationships with those around her. She seems to be desperate for love and acceptance. I’d love to get a little (or a lot) of her perspective in the next novel.

Jessica Spotswood has created a compelling, interesting world. Her United States was colonized, but never pulled away from England. The big city is called New London, the overall feel of the place is very British, and magic permeates everything (whether the Brotherhood wants it to or not). This is a great book for teens who enjoy historical fantasy and romance.
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If you like Born Wicked, you might also like:
Chime, Franny Billingsley
Prophecy of the Sisters, Michelle Zink
Clockwork Angel,Cassandra Clare

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Libri Dilectio: Book Review: Finnikin of the Rock

28 February 2012

Book Review: Finnikin of the Rock

Finnikin of the Rock, Melina Marchetta
(Gr 8+)
Candlewick Press, February 9, 2010. Reviewed from purchased copy.

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps. In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin’s unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems — and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.”

This was my first experience with Melina Marchetta, but it will not be the last. Actually, it opened a floodgate of fan-girlishness that has made her one of my all time favorite authors. Marchetta’s voice is so unique – it flows over the reader so effortlessly that it makes reading her books a true leisure activity. I fell incredibly easily into Finnikin’s world. I had (and still have) a very vivid picture of the land, the people, and the cities in my imagination. Marchetta world builds in a way that any author would be jealous of, so that the reader is totally unaware of it. This was the sort of book that took over my imagination so completely it made it difficult to read a new book once I’d finished. Which, let’s face it, is an awesome problem to have.

The characters who populate this land are diverse, interesting, and will work their way into readers’ hearts. Finnikin is everything you could want in a main character – he’s brave, stubborn, angry, and loyal. Readers will be instantly drawn to him. The secondary characters are abundant, but all of them have their own personalities and places in Marchetta’s story. I was just as attached to some of them as I was to Finnikin (Travanion, Sir Topher, Evanjalin!). The only secondary character who I could never make my mind up about was Froi. Do I hate him or love him? I really wasn’t sure until I read Froi of the Exiles (review to come), which I’m sure is exactly what Marchetta intended.

This novel will pull readers in and force them to keep turning pages. I absolutely loved it and recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys fantasy, strong characters, and amazing world building. I just can’t say enough good things about Melina Marchetta!

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If you like Finnikin of the Rock, you might also like:
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein
The Demon King, Cinda Williams Chima
The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner

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Libri Dilectio: December 2011

24 December 2011

The Thirteen Days of Doctor Who: Growing Up with the Doctor

Today, we’re doing things a little differently here at Libri Dilectio. In honor of the holiday and the best television show EVER (inarguable), I’m participating in the 13 Days of Doctor Who Blog Hop! This is the final day, so for those of you who’ve been following the hop since the beginning, you’re in the home stretch! Soon you’ll find out who won that highly coveted series 6 box set! Thank you to Erica O’Rourke for hosting and inviting me to play too!

I also have a guest hanging out at at LD with me today, my Dad, Mark! I thought no post about me growing up with Doctor Who would be complete without the man who started it all. You may remember my dad from his previous guest appearance, reviewing I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. Today he will be wearing TARDIS blue and I’ll be in traditional black. Here we go!
Matt (2) and Becky (4) – Doctor Who babies 1989
The Doctor has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. At the age of 4, I rocked a homemade (thanks mom) mini Doctor Who scarf. My brother, 2 years old at the time, had a matching one. We drank out of Doctor Who mugs when we wanted hot chocolate after playing in the snow, and we both referred to the show as “Doctor Wubbedy” since we sang the theme song, “wubbedy wub wubbedy wub…” Yes, we were cool children.
My dad, who was always available on Saturday mornings to watch The Smurfs or Mighty Mouse, has always been a HUGE Doctor Who fan.  Dad here, actually my first exposure to the Doctor was in 1972 at the house of a friend.  His parents were watching an episode with Jon Pertwee as the Doctor.  To explain the show to me they said, the Doctor was like James Bond from outer space who had a spaceship that was bigger on the inside than on the outside (honestly, it was one of the worst explanations I have ever heard of the show).  My response was, “Let’s go hang out somewhere else and talk about girls.”
 
Six years later, I found myself in graduate school in Ann Arbor, in an apartment all by myself, and trying to get through the MBA program at the University of Michigan.  At that time, WTVS, the Detroit PBS station, ran Doctor Who on Saturday nights.  I started watching the show in reruns and found Tom Baker to be a wonderful Time Lord.  He made you believe that he was more than human.
Okay, so you haven’t always been a fan, but for a long time, as long as I’ve been alive. I remember watching old episodes of Doctor Who on PBS with you and not understanding what was going on. I liked Sarah JaneSmith best of all the assistants (as they used to be called) and Tom Baker was my Doctor. Obviously, I was a preschooler who wore his scarf! I’ve never hidden behind a couch to avoid the Daleks, but I knew that you didn’t want to mess with those trash bin aliens!
In 1983, I found myself managing the construction of a suburban Chicago cable TV system for Westinghouse Electric.  My plant manager was a big Whovian and every Monday morning, he would come into the office and want to talk about the episode shown on WTTW Chicago late on Sunday night.  It was him who really opened up the world of Doctor Who for me.  Peter Davison was the current Doctor Who or “Tristan” as we called him having been earlier fans of “All Creatures Great and Small.” 
When you were born, Colin Baker had become the Doctor and the show was starting to unravel. Not that that was my fault or anything. I was just born under a bad BBC star or something. Something like that. Anyway, John Nathan Turner was producing the show and the stories were weak, disjointed and sometimes just plain bad, but that didn’t stop me.  I was still looking forward to bringing my children along for a ride in the TARDIS one day.  When you were two, Sylvester McCoy became the Doctor and the shows got worse, although McCoy was a very convincing Doctor.  Then, just as it looked like Becky was ready to join the team, the end came.  Abruptly.  No final episode, no tying up loose ends.  Nothing.  It was 1989 and it was over before it had begun.
Becky and Dad, Whovian Love!
And from then on, we waited. Well you waited. I had pretty much forgotten about the show. In 1994 I found one way to fill the gap: I discovered the Doctor Who series novels and started reading them.  Those novels were what the show should have always been.  The Doctor became a more dark and lonely person, feeling the pressure of keeping the universe together and often losing patience with it.  One of my favorite lines from one of the books was, “I’m what monsters have nightmares about,” which was later used for David Tennant in “The Girl in the Fireplace” episode.  The made-for-tv movie came out in 1996 and the less said about that, the better, although I still think Paul McGann was superb and would have been a great continuing Doctor. You had high hopes for the TV movie, but sadly it just didn’t grab an audience like the BBC wanted and the Doctor went back into hibernation for another 10 years. 
Fast forward to 2005 – another job, but back home in the Chicago area.  I was traveling to Europe every now and then for business.  It was September 13th (a Tuesday – yes, I keep track of these things as any real Time Lord would).  I was lying in my bed in the hotel in London watching the BBC when a promotional spot came on.  It was a shot panning across a wall.  The voice over said, “He’s back.  And it’s about time.” And the shot pans over to the TARDIS.  WHAT??  I had not read that they had started shooting the show again!!  
The next day, I ran over to Tower Records on Piccadilly and bought the first two DVDs of the new series without any way to play them.  I figured out how to watch them on my company laptop, but that only works five times and then the DVD drive gets hosed.  When I got home, I bought a multi-region DVD player so I could watch the shows on my HDTV.  The show was just what it should have been years ago.  It had picked up the darker and more serious elements of the books, but kept the old Tom Baker humor (“Nine hundred years of time and space and I’ve never been slapped by someone’s mother.”).  I honestly could not wait to reintroduce the kids to the show.  But that would have to wait until they got home for Thanksgiving.
In 2005, during my sophomore year of college, I brought my boyfriend (who is now my husband) home to meet my family. He was still at the point that he did pretty much anything my family asked of him, including watching Rose, the first episode of the new season of Doctor Who. I was skeptical of the new reboot, but, after one episode, we were both hooked. Maybe that was the first sign that we were meant to get married.
My dad and I (and my brother, mother, husband, friends) are devoted Whovians. We remember the lines, the episodes, the characters, and the music. Doctor Who is a part of my family, and one of the only shows we really enjoy as an entire family. We’re all loving Matt Smith’s Doctor and will miss the Ponds when they bow out at the end of this upcoming season. We’ll all be watching tomorrow for The Doctor the Widow and the Wardrobe, and you should too!

To enter the grand prize giveaway, please leave a comment with your name and email address. You may enter once at every stop on the blog tour, for a total of thirteen chances. The Grand Prize giveaway is limited to the US and Canada, due to regional restrictions on the DVD. Individual contests will close at the discretion of the author, but the Grand Prize contest will accept entries on any site until midnight CST on December 24th. The winner will be posted HERE on December 25th, and be notified via email.



10 December 2011

The Adventures of a Booktalking Librarian – Part III

My favorite outreach program at the library is a booktalk we do twice a year (winter and summer) for 3rd-5th grade advanced readers at a local elementary school. The kids really appreciate the visit, and I have a great time getting ready for it. I don’t always get to go, gotta share the joy with some of the co-workers sometimes, but I did get to go yesterday! Another librarian and I each shared 10 titles with the class and then left them for the kids to read over winter break. I know we brought good books because I worked last night and 4 different kids came in looking for books from our booktalk!

Here are the books I shared this time:

9111463 
How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous, Georgia Bragg and Kevin O’Malley

The awful ends of 19 awfully famous people including; Beethoven, Henry VIII, Napoleon, Pocahontas, and Queen Elizabeth I. Perfect for readers who love all things disgusting, but best avoided by those with a weak stomach.

8901945Hidden, Helen Frost

When Wren and Darra were eight years old, Darra’s father stole a minivan, with Wren inside. What happened next changed both their lives forever.

Years later, Wren and Darra end up at the same summer camp and must face each other for the first time. Both girls have questions and neither one trusts the other.

9462672True…Sort Of, Katherine Hannigan

This is the story of three kids all living in a small town. Delly Pattison is one of many siblings and always in trouble. She doesn’t mean to be trouble, everything she does seems like a good or helpful thing to her, but it’s always big trouble. Brud Kinney is a shy boy who speaks with a stutter. Brud loves basketball more than anything. He wants to be the best basketball player in the world. Ferris Boyd is new in town and she plays basketball better than anyone Brud’s ever seen, but Ferris is a very different kind of person. She never speaks and she doesn’t want to be touched…at all. Ferris ends up in the same class at school as Delly, which, of course, leads to big trouble, and big fun.

Touch Blue, Cynthia Lord51vecxKm3mL

Tess loves living on an island off the coast of Maine, but now that so many families have moved away, the state is planning to shut down her island’s school. With no school, Tess and her family would have to move to the mainland. The islanders have a plan to keep their island school open and the families in their homes, they just need more students. Several families, including Tess’, take in foster children. Tess is convinced her new foster sibling will be just like Anne in Anne of Green Gables. She can’t wait to show her all around the island and make friends, but then it turns out that she’s getting a foster brother. Aaron is a thirteen year old trumpet player who is not happy to be on the island and has no interest in getting close to Tess’ family.

9917879The Unwanteds, Lisa McMann

In Quill, thirteen is a very important age. Who you are at thirteen determines who you will be for the rest of your life, and how long the rest of your life will be. Thirteen year olds are sorted into two categories, the smart, strong Wanteds who go on to the University and a lifetime in Quill, and the artistic Unwanteds who are sent to die.

Alex and Aaron are twin brothers and also thirteen. Aaron is Wanted, Alex is Unwanted.

Alex is prepared to die; he has expected to be an Unwanted, knowing that he is too creative. When he arrives at the place where all Unwanteds go to die, he is surprised to discover that not only will he live, but he will be taught to use his creativity as magic. He now lives in the hidden land of Artime. A place filled with magic and mystery, and well hidden from the government officials who believe the Unwanteds living there are all long dead.

Even in this magical place, Alex can’t forget his twin brother, Aaron. Their bond is so strong that each can sense the other, leading to danger for Artime and a magical war that will pit brother against brother.

Wisdom’s Kiss, Catherine Gilbert MurdockWisdomskiss

This is the story of three people whose lives become completely entangled. Princess Wisdom, known to all as Dizzy, just wants to be free to live a life filled with adventure. Tips is a soldier, trying hard to keep his true identity a secret from his family and the girl he left behind. Fortitude, called Trudy, has visions of the future, but only cares that Tips return home to her.

These three very different people must find a way to work together to save the country of Montagne, protect it’s future queen, and find out who they really are. Too bad they have so much trouble getting along. Told in diaries, encyclopedia entries, newspaper articles, and plays, this hilarious story will turn happily ever after on its ear and redefine what it means to be a hero.

9726503Liesl and Po, Lauren Oliver

Liesl has a wicked step-mother, who has locked her away in an attic room. Liesl’s step-mother is so wicked that she didn’t even let Liesl out to say goodbye to her father before he died. In the attic Liesl is all alone, except for the mice, until the night she meets Po – who just happens to be a ghost.

On the same night Liesl meets Po, Will, an alchemyst’s apprentice, is supposed to make a delivery. He’s meant to deliver a box containing the most powerful magic in the entire world, but he gets it wrong. Now the magic is lost and Will, along with Liesl and Po, sets off on an epic adventure.

Wonderstruck, Brian SelznickWonderstruck

This is the story of two young people, living 50 years apart. Rose’s story is told entirely in pictures because Rose is deaf. This way, readers experience the world much as Rose herself does, through sight.

Ben’s mother has just passed away and he’s living with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousins on a lake in Minnesota. One night, he sneaks away and finds a clue to the identity of the father he’s never met. Ben wants nothing more than to find his father, so he runs away to New York City where he meets some interesting people and ends up living in a museum.

10637959 Breadcrumbs, Anne Ursu

Hazel’s parents have just gotten divorced, and to make matters worse, now her mother can’t afford the tuition for the private school Hazel’s always gone to. Hazel starts to attend public school, but she just doesn’t understand the rules or her classmates. Hazel is a daydreamer, a reader, and completely lost in her own imagination. She doesn’t have any friends at her new school, except Jack.

Jack is Hazel’s neighbor and he’s been her best friend their whole lives. Jack’s family life isn’t the best so he spends a lot of time in his imagination, just like Hazel. They are two peas in a pod until the day Jack gets something in his eye that turns his heart cold. He stops talking to Hazel or being her friend at all and one day he disappears completely.

Hazel knows there’s more going on then just growing apart and that Jack hasn’t gone to live with some relative she’s never heard of. She sets off to save him and finds herself in the middle of an enchanted forest. Hazel learns that it’s one thing to dream of adventures, but another thing entirely to find yourself in the middle of one.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, Chris Van Allsburg 5070-3

The classic images and captions from The Mysteries of Harris Burdick are turned into full stories by 14 well known children’s authors including: Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka, and the man himself, Chris Van Allsburg.

09 December 2011

Reader’s Advisory or A Missed Opportunity

I am a librarian. I know…you’re not particularly surprised. It does say so all over the place on this site. It’s in my “About Me” section, my “Review Policy,” my header, and look, over there on the right, it’s even in my “Welcome” note. I’ve made it pretty clear that I am a librarian, but I’ve been missing an opportunity to share my librarian-ness with the internet! I said that I started my blog, “as a way to keep track of what I’m reading and to better do my FAVORITE part of my job, reader’s advisory,” but I haven’t been readers advising! Not at all! I mean, yes, I’ve been reviewing and recommending good books, but I could do more!

I really do love reader’s advisory and kids ask for it so often that it’s also become one of the most answered reference questions for me. I’m not sure if adults ask as often as kids, never worked with grown ups before…too big. Anyway, I get to recommend good books to kids all day every day at work. I’m in charge of maintaining and updating my library’s online book lists as well, so seriously, if I haven’t made it clear enough already, I do A LOT of reader’s advisory.

Now, here’s the problem, I haven’t been advising all of you. I’m sorry, but there’s an easy solution, I’m going to start! You might have noticed in my last post about The Agency series (which once again is awesome!) that I added a section for reader’s advisory. I’m going to start doing that from now on with every single review I write. I might even go back and add it to old posts (not sure about that yet. It’ll depend on how much I hide indoors this winter). Hopefully, this will be fun for readers and useful for those who have already read the book I’m reviewing, or just want to know what to read after they finish it. OR, for those of you who are also librarians, maybe it will help you with recommending books to your kids and teens.

I’m sad it took me this long to realize my mistake, but I’m happy to start remedying it now! Yay for reader’s advisory!! Now, excuse me, I have to go get ready for a school booktalk. Smile.

Libri Dilectio: November 2011

21 November 2011

Series Review: The Agency

A Spy in the House, Y.S. Lee
(Gr 7+)
Candlewick, March 9, 2010. Reviewed from library book.

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.”

 The Body at the Tower, Y.S. Lee
(Gr 7+)
Candlewick, Aug 10, 2010. Reviewed from library book.

In this, the second book of the series, Mary Quinn sets out to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death at St. Stephen’s Tower, better known as the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The accident occurred after hours in a highly public part of town and despite the presence of night watchmen. Mary, disguised as Mark Quinn, becomes a builder’s assistant to find out the truth about the body at the tower.”

I’ve been meaning to read this series for awhile, but actually, I’m kind of glad that I waited. This way I was able to read the first one and immediately dive into the second one! That is the perk of being a late comer to a series.

Mary Quinn is a great character. She’s smart, brave, and nothing like other ladies of her time period. I love that she’s part street child, part thief, part lady, and part secret agent! She reminded me of Sally Lockhart, although Sally leans a little more to the lady side initially, she certainly becomes more and more of a strong, independent woman. I love Phillip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart mysteries and was very pleased to find a series that reminds me of them.

The mysteries in the series are wonderful. They keep the reader guessing, but are completely solvable by the reader if they pay attention. Mary doesn’t pull anything out of her hat at the last minute. Lee lays everything out for Mary and the reader. I figured out both of the mysteries and loved that I was able to. I think the best mysteries are the kind that the reader can solve with the main character. This is especially nice in mysteries written for teens.

Y.S. Lee is a great author! She writes compelling characters, interesting plots, and amazingly well researched stories. She has a PhD in Victorian Literature and Culture, and it shows reading these books. They are perfect for teens who want to learn about the time period, but don’t want to read a dry text book. I’ve already recommended the series to several teen girls, one of which came back to tell me how much she loved it and that she wanted the second one right away. If you’re looking for a great historical mystery series, check out The Agency, but try to get the first and second one, you’ll want both.

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If you like The Agency, you might also like:
The Ruby in the Smoke, Phillip Pullman
A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray
The Diamond of Drury Lane, Julia Golding

15 November 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: The Sad and the Long Overlooked

This is the first time I’m participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish (love that blog name, probably describes every book bloggers life).

This week’s topic, the top ten unread books on your shelves, was of particular interest to me. Just this weekend I went through my shelves and counted all the books I own, but haven’t read. There are a lot, like a lot, way more than 10. I keep acquiring books with intentions to read them right away, and then they just hang out on my shelves forever. If new books would stop being published for a few months, maybe I could catch up.

Going Bovine, Libba Bray
This has been sitting on my shelf since it first came out. I really want to read it, but I never seem to be in the right mood. To make matters worse, it’s been signed by the author…twice. I accidentally brought it to a book signing without remembering that she’d already signed it, but Libba Bray is so awesome, she just drew pictures in it.

The Demon King, Cinda Williams Chima
I love fantasy, so so so much. This author seems to get great reviews and have a devoted following. I’ll probably love this series…and yet, this book (and the next in the series The Exiled Queen) are just hanging out on my shelves. Sigh.

A Northern Light, Jennifer Donnelly
I loved Revolution so much that when I bought a copy of it, I also picked up a copy of A Northern Light. It’s just been sitting on the shelf since then. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did start it once, but put it down when a shiny new book I’d been waiting for came out. I have book ADD.

Reckless, Cornelia Funke
Another one that I bought with the best intentions, and yet it remains unopened.

One of the shelves where good books go to die. And my husband’s “office.”

Bright Young Things, Anna Godbersen
Oh how I loved The Luxe series. It’s one of my favorites. When asked what book world I’d most like to live in, this is the one I chose. My wonderful mother in law gave this to me last Christmas. I still haven’t read it, not even opened it. I’m a bad bad daughter in law.

Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan
Okay, so this one I have opened. I’ve actually started it at least 3 times. Something about this story has never grabbed me. Maybe I should try it one more time…then it might be heading for the donation pile. Poor Printz Award winners. I just never seem to read them once I buy them (one notable exception being Looking for Alaska).

Rot and Ruin, Jonathan Maberry
I love zombies. I love action. Why I have I not loved this book yet? No idea.

Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta
Another award winner that so many people seem to love more than anything, but I haven’t found the desire to try it yet. Maybe some day.

The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness
Got this one at what my bestie referred to as a “Post-Apocalyptic Borders” during the initial closing of certain stores. No matter how much good stuff I hear about this series, or how much I LOVED A Monster Calls, I still haven’t tried this one.

The Uglies Series, Scott Westerfeld
Okay, so I have read Uglies, but just not the rest of the series. I got the boxed set for my 25th birthday, and, considering I’m coming up on my 27th, it’s been sitting on my shelves for awhile. I really do want to read the rest of them. No good reason why I haven’t.

There you have it, just a selection of the GREAT books I haven’t been reading. It seems that, for me, buying a book is a death sentence. It doesn’t have a due date anymore, I own it, I’ll always have it, I can read it any time I want – so I don’t. Maybe they’ll be another snowpocalypse this year and I can read some books I’ve been meaning to for so long.

02 November 2011

Book Review: Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs, Anne Ursu
(Gr 4-6)
Harper Collins/Walden Pond, Sept 27, 2011. Reviewed from library book.

“Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. They had been best friends since they were six, spending hot Minneapolis summers and cold Minneapolis winters together, dreaming of Hogwarts and Oz, superheroes and baseball. Now that they were eleven, it was weird for a boy and a girl to be best friends. But they couldn’t help it – Hazel and Jack fit, in that way you only read about in books. And they didn’t fit anywhere else.


And then, one day, it was over. Jack just stopped talking to Hazel. And while her mom tried to tell her that this sometimes happens to boys and girls at this age, Hazel had read enough stories to know that it’s never that simple. And it turns out, she was right. Jack’s heart had been frozen, and he was taken into the woods by a woman dressed in white to live in a palace made of ice. Now, it’s up to Hazel to venture into the woods after him. Hazel finds, however, that these woods are nothing like what she’s read about, and the Jack that Hazel went in to save isn’t the same Jack that will emerge. Or even the same Hazel.”

This modern day retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen is beautiful, endearing, and imaginative. The first half of the novel is realistic fiction. The story of a girl, Hazel, who’s wild imagination keeps her from fitting in with anyone her own age. Anyone except her best friend and neighbor, Jack. Hazel lives inside her imagination, comparing her life to those of her favorite book characters. Jack understands Hazel’s imaginings, and has some of his own to share. The two make a great pair, much to the dismay of Jack’s male friends, until the day Jack suddenly turns on Hazel.

I loved Hazel right from the start. She’s vivacious and creative. I actually had a little trouble believing that no one, other than Jack, wanted to be her friend. Really, no one wants to be friends with the nice girl who daydreams and reads a lot?! But, I digress. Hazel is the kind of girl who knows how to deal with trouble. She’s read about it enough. As long as she has Jack by her side, she doesn’t care that the rest of her classmates ignore her or call her “Crazy Hazy.” Even once Jack abruptly ends their friendship, Hazel is resilient. She knows something terrible has happened to Jack. He wouldn’t just stop being her friend, not ever.

The second half of the novel is straight fantasy, fairy tale. Hazel goes into the enchanted wood to save Jack from the Snow Queen. This part of the novel is perfect for all children who think they’d like to go on an adventure like the ones they read about. Hazel has always believed in good triumphing over evil and the strength of the smallest people, but when faced with her own adventure she realizes just how hard it is to be brave.

This book is wonderfully written. The descriptions are vibrant and will stay rooted in your imagination long after you turn the last page. This is a book lovers book. Hazel frequently name drops familiar characters or references places many readers will have visited in other stories. I gobbled this story up and enjoyed every minute – now I can’t wait to share it with all the kids at the library. Breadcrumbs is out now so pick up a copy! You’ll love it!

01 November 2011

Book Review: The Future of Us

The Future of Us, Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
(Gr 7+)

Coming 21 November 2011
Razorbill. Review copy provided by publisher.

“It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.”

The premise of this story is really interesting. As I was reading the book, I found myself wanting to look at my own facebook profile and try to see it through the eyes of my sixteen year old self. Would I like the way I looked? Would I like my job? Would I be happy with my husband (of course, he’s adorable)? If you were a teenager and had a brief glance at what your future would be like in fifteen years, how much would you want to change? Obviously, a facebook profile can’t give all the details of a future life. Even people who put the most personal details online don’t put everything on, so can you really judge your future on only what you find on a social networking site?

I like stories about time travel, any kind of time travel really. I like it if the character manages to physically travel through time, gets secret messages from their future self, or, as it turns out, finds a future website. The story raised some great points about changing the future. Emma starts out right away thinking about how she can make her future life different than it is, better. Josh on the other hand, is worried about what his new knowledge might mean for the present and how it could screw up his future. For example, “This is making me nervous. The future seems so fragile. For instance, I already saw that I’m going to the University of Washington like my brother. And I definitely want that to happen, but what if knowing I’ll get in makes me slack on the application and then I get rejected?” (ARC 134-135). Yup, mind blown! What if just knowing the future changes your actions in the present and, therefore, changes the future!? I think I need a cup of tea.

Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler are a little bit of an author dream team. Together they created a compulsively readable book that I could not put down. Literally. I read the entire thing in just over 2 hours. Emma and Josh are sweet, fun, interesting characters who I would definitely want to be friends with. Their story is a perfect mix of obsessing over their future and trying to figure out their present. Each of them faces different dilemmas from their new knowledge – do they keep secrets or help friends? Their story will suck you in and you won’t be able to stop until the very end, so I recommend starting this book in a very comfy chair. Then ask yourself, how much would you want to know about your future?