My intention with the Book of the Month is to highlight the creativity and storytelling of novels. However, I have read a few nonfiction books that I feel are must read books. They are so powerful that I want to share them. This month’s selection is one such book.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

After I picked this selection, I realized it’s the 2nd in a row that is a Caldecott, even the same year. But it has such awesome pictures!

I had set it aside and forgot about it. I can’t believe I forgot.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

This month’s selection is another historical novel. Ancient history, referencing Greece. The female characters are the strongest part of the story. I like that the author imagined much of it and fit it into the existing content. I also like that it has a very different tone.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

There is a huge range of books with Caldecott awards. This month’s selection is one of the best, evoking deep feelings through illustration and text.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

I am continuing my reading of Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera. I like it better than his Dresden Files, which my son keeps badgering me to read. I am persevering, but prefer Alera. Finished the 2nd Academ’s Fury, in which Tavi is training at the Imperial Academy to be a secret agent, and the 3rd Cursor’s Fury, in which Tavi is undercover in a special legion force. In each book, Tavi has saved the day, though he appears to be the only one lacking magical powers. He relies instead on knowledge, strategical thinking, and good hard work. And a few good friends/protectors.

I’m a little late this month. With the hurricane disruption, I quite forgot.

I guess  it’s appropriate that the characters in this month’s selection also had to contend with storms, being a sea story. The story is part whaling adventure, part social assimilation, part individual growth. It seems fantastic, but was patterned after a biographical subject.

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This selection is all about the pictures, as I am unfamiliar with the song that it illustrates. The pictures are exceptional. It is a nice historical picture book. Being from the United States, I found it interesting how similar the Canadian history is to our own railroad building.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

This is the 2nd book by the author I have read and enjoyed. They have similar themes, though different times, places and cultures. Both have an independent female protagonist in a nontraditional role. Both have an unusual setting at a time of great transformation due to European conquerors.

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Current Pick and List of Previous

I just finished reading the first book in Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera, Furies of Calderon. It’s more violent than I want to review on my site (half the book involves a battle), but I enjoyed the characters and the developing story. I recommend it for mature YA and transition to adult. My son has reviewed it for Fantasy Folder.

I just finished the 2nd book in Brandon Sanderson‘s Mistborn series.  I realized at that time, that I need to be updating my Favorite Authors page. Sanderson has become one of my favorites. Others  will be forthcoming.

I also haven’t added anything to the Horizons page in a while, of which the Mistborn series is a great example.

Sanderson gained popularity through the continuance of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. Since then, my family has been reading his books. I have enjoyed all of them so far. I particularly like Mistborn, which has a 4th book coming out this year.

Sanderson seems to be an author that thoroughly enjoys writing. He also interacts with his fans through Twitter and Reddit.