Probably the thing I find most compelling about this book is the main character’s communication with the wolves. It’s a teen love story, but more than that. It sports an old theme, werewolves, with a more human view than most and less back and forth changing.

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Don’t know how I missed this when it came out. I loved Framed. Frank Cottrell Boyce is a fun writer. He takes odd subjects and makes them fun. He packs in a bunch of insights along the way. This one is a bit far-fetched, but still enjoyable.

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This month’s selection is a sequel to a book I loved! I did not know if I would like it as much, but the illustrations are fantastic. Lots of action in the story, so it is especially good for boys.

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I read this book at the beginning of  the year and forgot about it. I Shall Wear Midnight is the 4th book of Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series. If you haven’t already read Pratchett, all I can say is you are missing out on hilarity. This particular series within the greater Discworld series is a favorite, marketed for YA. Hopefully, the YA series will lead you as well to the rest of the series.

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Tiffany Aching

I expected Meggy Swann would be an apprentice or something. The story is nothing like that. The alchemy gives Meggy an interesting setting, but that’s only a twist to the story. The crux is the growth of Meggy as a person, in medieval London. It very much has the nitty gritty feel of Shakespearean London.

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This month’s selection is by an author I read whenever he has a new book. He has a way with words that not all authors share nowadays. Not as lyrical as the first one I read, but much life is packed into the story.

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I was delighted to see that Anna Grossnickle Hines has a new picture book of quilts and poems.  This one is a bit different from the other two. I think the focus is more on the poetry.

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Thank you to Linda Sue Park who doesn’t shy away from meaningful content. Most of her books are ones I would highly recommend. Approaching young people with intelligence and giving them access to a world of ideas.

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Jennifer Holm must have some friends on the Newbery committee as this is her 3rd book to be given a Newbery Honor, all three based on family stories. But seriously, Holm writes historical fiction well, maybe partly because she is drawing from her family. I have not read the middle one yet, though maybe it’s time I should. I like the title of this selection, but I think both the title and cover art lead the reader in a different direction than the story goes.

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Have to select this combination book and CD for the wonderful experience of listening to the performance! The illustrations are a treat, too. Plus, the educational experience I have had in comparing different performances and the memories of childhood recordings. I spent hours exploring related things through the internet.

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