The selection this month I actually read last year when it was new, but my review was pushed aside by other more pressing items. It was one of the best picture books I saw published in 2009. I like it best as the trailer, the poem read by the author, but if I had a girl in mind with which to share it, I would want it.

REVIEW

Current Pick and List of Previous

Winter’s Heart is one of the best of the series. So much happens in this book. Maybe it’s silly to continue with the summaries for this series, but I want to be able to look back for my own benefit. The series is one long story, with many mini-stories, told in 14 volumes. Maybe my regular reminders will inspire new people to try the series.

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Series

Amidst the chaos of politics today, people are trying to make sense of important issues and solve crucial problems, at least at the grassroots level. In order to do this, real discussion of differing sides needs to happen. The Opposing Viewpoints series is an attempt to teach students how to begin this process. This particular book in the series takes on hard questions.

REVIEW

I love a good historical fiction novel. Donna Jo Napoli satisfies readers again and again with her unusual choices of material. This month’s selection is her recent book The Smile in which she depicts the Italian Renaissance with an interesting cast of characters.

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I had a hard time finding a selection this month. Lots of books I thought would be good were not quite right. Then, I saw Listen to the Wind and was blown away by its message. I found the young reader’s version of the story Three Cups of Tea even more exciting.

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Want to seem more knowledgeable (or geeky) than you actually are? Do you have the need to prove that you are smarter than everyone else in the room? Join Dr. Sheldon Cooper on a jaunt through The Secrets of the Universe and impress all those you meet.

REVIEW

This month’s selection was written in the 1980s, before YA books became popular. It is an excellent example of the quality of YA books.

Peter Dickinson’s Eva explores such themes as what it is to be human, animal rights vs ownership, corporate exploitation, overzealous media, and survival and evolution of a species.

It may sound like a heavy book, but it is a short, quick read.

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A cool title and by Katherine Paterson, who tends to write unique and interesting historical novels. It certainly doesn’t sound like it should be anywhere near as sad as the subject is.

I wish that this book (or another like it) had been written sooner. The reason is that I had so little awareness of the regional war of which it deals.

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I finally managed to read Gregory Maguire’s Wicked. I enjoyed the book and philosophical discussion, but decided that it is better suited to Fantasy Folder‘s site than mine, due to adult material.

This book jumped out at me from on top of the new book shelf at the library. I love to look at the artwork in picture books anyway, so I took a peek. I’m usually selective about the nonfiction books I read. This one is very appealing.

REVIEW

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