Already I’m not keeping up with this reading challenge (link in sidebar to the right). I switched books, because one needed to go back to the library. I did start reading the new book, and it is fascinating-a blend of biographical, historical, and philosophical. In An End to Suffering by Pankaj Mishra(2004), the author journeys in search of Buddha, the man, and his teachings. He starts out as a freelance scholar, and I can tell by the tone that he finds much more than he expects-possibly a new direction in life.

The book I meant to read was David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. He’s not a favorite author, but I thought maybe I just needed to try a different book. I haven’t decided if I want to make it the February book. In any case, I will have to double up this month.

Browsing the Kidlitosphere, I happened upon a wonderful link by Read Roger/HornBook-December 2007. Susan Cooper spoke at Cambridge Forum on the role of literary fantasy in the lives of children. WGBH has links for audio, video, and podcast formats. I was intrigued and listened immediately. She gave a lecture and answered questions from the audience. I have read her Dark Is Rising series twice. Her books are high on my list of favorites. I was enchanted to find that not only is she the best of writers, but she is also an eloquent speaker. The event was both powerful and magical. I wish I could have been there.

This month I have too many books to choose from for the Book of the Month. How to choose? I’m going to have to go with Click, a collaborative novel by 10 excellent authors. I decided that Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, being a Newbery Honor book, will get the attention it deserves. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor(1st book of series, but 2nd is new) is also exciting, as is The Great Tree of Avalon (1st book of The Child of the Dark Prophecy by T. A. Barron-3rd book is new).

REVIEW of Click

Yea! Gary Schmidt has another Newbery Honor book this year. Just finished the book and was trying to decide if I like it as well as Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. It’s hard to compare them because one is more modern though still historical. I like both a great deal. There are some similarities as far as outlook on life. I think I would cherish Lizzie Bright more because of its lyrical quality, but Wednesday Wars is more entertaining and will appeal to a larger range of people.

REVIEW

Last fall I decided it would be a great idea to compile a list of books on time travel, as I have been enjoying this idea in the past few years. It’s taken a while, but I’ve gathered reviews of my own and others for my list. Some are much loved books; others I happened upon shelving or in the new book section of the library; and some I knew of from long ago. Read the rest of this entry »

David Wiesner is the master of the wordless story. Besides the beauty of his work, he creates one surprise after another in his books. Some of his concepts are loosely tied to the story, but they are fabulous, detailed stories within the story.

This month’s selection is the best yet of his work. Totally amazing illustrations and a strong story. I hope you enjoy <i>Flotsam</i> as much as I have again and again.

REVIEW

Current Pick and Previous

Ann Rinaldi gets right to the heart of the matter in this story of the first black poetess. She is abducted in Senegal at age seven and sold in Boston to John Wheatley. Taken in, educated, and petted by the Wheatleys, she is still kept as property for many years-even after she proves her worth as a poet. The heir of the family, Nathaniel, teaches and befriends her, but also betrays her again and again with his controlling behavior.

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My opinion of Elijah of Buxton is mixed. There is a quality of Curtis’s that I truly enjoy. His writing is always engaging with characters that you know fully. The theme is always a conflict in life that has affected our past and still affects our present. There is a great story within the book. It starts way too slow, though. A reviewer at CleanReads noted that it took 2/3 of the story to get to the plot. I agree that this is true. For me this is too long. I was close to not finishing the book despite some of the entertaining details and my liking of the author.

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This is a book that is perpetually out of our local library. I increased my searching when I learned of the movie soon to come out (Mar 19, 2008). The book was slightly disappointing to me as I was very excited about the topic. It could be it was better before translation, and there were some fantastic details. Still looking forward to the movie. The slow parts will be edited out.

REVIEW

John Huffam’s father swears he doesn’t owe any one person the amount of money for which he is sent to debtor’s prison in 1849 London. While trying to solve the problem of getting his father released, John learns that just about everyone he encounters is lying-his father, the family’s housemaid, the bailiff, his ex-school teacher, his sister’s suitor, the inspector treating his father as a traitor, the inspector who isn’t that confronts him with a warning, even Sary, his new friend, who is helping him make sense of the confusing mystery. All he knows for sure is that there is a spy after a secret that his father holds, and he is determined to discover who it is.

Very much in the style of Dickens, the story has many elements that Dickens used-scenes of poverty, sneaks from the lower class, wrongful accusation, trial of the innocent, many and varied colorful characters, wealthy benefactor, and emphasis on detail and description. Because of the detail and twisting of the plot, it takes some time to become involved in the story. Once sufficiently into the story, the mystery is captivating. It isn’t my favorite Avi book, but I would recommend it for both historical fiction and mystery.

related-19th century England, imprisonment for debts, spies, Scotland Yard, intrigue, poverty (1800s), mystery and detective stories
RL=6th-YA