Home  Helen's Picks
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Helen's Picks |
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HELEN WILDING COOK - Children's Collection Development Coordinator
August 2010
| | "The Kneebone Boy"
by Ellen Potter Max is the youngest Hardscrabble sibling. He knows pretty much everything, but he tries to be subtle to avoid getting hit. Lucia is bossy and articulate but not as smart as Max, which annoys her. Otto is the oldest and hasn’t spoken or taken off his scarf since their mother disappeared. The settings and mystery plot are marvelous and convoluted. Any child with even a modicum of interest in reading will be delighted by this book. Booklist described the writing of Ellen Potter as “Dashes of Dahl, snippets of Snicket, and heaps of Horvath.' Hardcover LBN 690585 / ISBN 9780312377724 | | "The Mysterious Howling"
by Maryrose Wood Book one in The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, aptly described as Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket. A girl graduates from an austere boarding school, where she has internalized dozens of rules in vigorous discipline and absurd self-sacrifice. At her first governess job, she finds her charges locked in a barn wearing blankets. They bark and chase squirrels. She gamely absorbs these facts and begins teaching elocution while calmly insisting that clothing is compulsory. Much later she learns the children were apparently raised by wolves. I read this book then read Jane Eyre for the first time. (Shameful! I know.) The Mysterious Howling is a brilliant, hilarious parody.
Hardcover LBN 651927 / ISBN 9780061791055 | July 2010
| | "King Tut's Tomb Robbers"
by Miguel Carbonell Set in 2025, a family’s time-travel vacation to Egypt goes horribly wrong. The brother gets sent to the wrong time period, dropped into the court of King Tutankhamun, the year he died. The author uses this vehicle to explore the mysterious circumstances of King Tut’s death and also inserts some interesting time-paradox plot twists. Paperback LBN 679289
Hardcover LBN 679292 | | "Burned: A House Of Night Novel"
by P.C. Cast The House of Night continues to be among my favourite YA paranormal series. Zoey’s friends have seven days to figure out how to heal her shattered soul, scattered in the Otherworld. Themes of loyalty, making good choices, and believing in themselves and each other continue in the character development of Zoey, Stevie Ray, Aphrodite and Stark. If Hermione Granger attended The House of Night, she’d have trouble keeping up with our clever fledglings!
Hardcover LBN 661020 | | "White Cat"
by Holly Black This is the first book in a new YA paranormal series, The Curseworkers, and it has a brilliant romantic twist. Lila has always been Cassel’s best friend, but for years he’s been in love with her. After they share an adventure and he saves her life, suddenly, she passionately loves him back. Then Cassel learns his mother cast an irreversible love spell on Lila. Now he doesn’t really know how she feels, and neither does she. Holly Black weaves a fast-paced mystery into this engaging romance and builds a unique paranormal world with several intriguing subplots.
Hardcover LBN 668931 | May 2010
| | "Blood Promise"
by Richelle Mead The recent Stigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was deadly–Dimitri was captured and turned. He and Rose had promised each other that if this happened, she would hunt him and free his soul. On her heartbreaking journey, Rose learns about her bond with Lissa and meets new allies. Back at to St. Vladimir’s Rose and Lissa are becoming more powerful as political intrigue and danger build around them. Mead’s exploration of right and wrong is fascinating and complex.
Paperback LBN 673423 | | "Northward To The Moon"
by Polly Horvath This is a worthy sequel to the outstanding book My One Hundred Adventures. Jane’s stepdad Ned can’t actually speak French, which apparently has implications for his job as a French teacher in Saskatchewan. After he gets fired, Jane, Ned, her mom and siblings return home to the east coast via B.C. and Las Vegas, as we meet most of Ned's peculiar family. Hilarious familial miscommunications, assumptions, and absurd habits ensue.
Paperback LBN 678426 | | "Madapple"
by Christina Meldrum Christina Meldrum uses a series of flashbacks to effectively illustrate that perception is hugely influenced by how much or how little one knows: in this case, both the reader and the protagonist, Madapple. Meldrum also explores how easy it is to harm people when trying to protect them. This book is a brilliant debut.
Paperback LBN 655782 | | "Beautiful Creatures"
by Kami Garcia The Caster Chronicles: Book 1. Of all the paranormal YA romances recently published, this one stands out. The gothic setting is outstanding with it's overgrown gardens, murky swamps, crumbling graveyards and mansions, and foreboding thunderstorms. The contemporary high school romance between Lena (the unusual new girl) and Ethan (a popular clique insider) develops credibly and sizzles with sensuality. The extensive cast of characters includes some of the most compelling witches, vampires, and werewolves I've read in a long time. I look forward to book 2 in October 2010.
Paperback LBN 636461 | March 2010
| | "Betrayals: A Strange Angels Novel"
by Lili St. Crow This is book two in the Strange Angels series. The voice of Lili St. Crow’s protagonist, Dru, conveys intelligence, courage and a quirky sense of humour. She articulates her thoughts and feelings precisely. Readers will feel her face burn when she blushes, the ache of her exertion, the warmth behind her ribs when she talks to a boy, and the fear and thrill of her developing supernatural powers. St. Crow achieves all this concurrent with relentless life-or-death action. And, one conversation at a time, Dru is developing relationships with both a vampire and a werewolf.
Paperback LBN 637433 | | "Taken"
by Norah McClintock This book was not published in the Orca Soundings series designated for teens reading below grade level, but it is an excellent choice for teen reluctant readers. There are very few characters and the plot has a lightning pace, despite a simple chronological timeline. The main character, Stephanie, is abducted, but escapes only to find that she is surrounded by wilderness. She uses the survival training her Grandfather taught her survive and navigate her way to the nearest town. All the while, she fears her abductor will track and recapture her. Riveting!
Paperback LBN 633146 | | "Homicide Related"
by Norah McClintock This is the second Ryan Dooley Mystery of a planned trilogy, and it is an excellent teen read. Dooley’s relationship with his girlfriend Beth deepens and strengthens and he dares to share more of his troubled past with her, despite his fear that she will think less of him. Seeing such vulnerability in a “tough-guy” character is intriguing. For her part, Beth defends Dooley in conversations with her mother. Beth’s mother has good reason for concern. When two murders occur in the plot, Dooley investigates both of them, as he and his uncle are suspects.
Paperback LBN 631916 | | "The Shepherd's Granddaughter"
by Alison Goodman The allegorical elements of this 2010 Red Maple Award nominee are clever and well-executed. A Palestinian teenager takes over her grandfather’s flock of sheep. When Israeli settlers build on the mountain her grandfather and previous generations used to graze the flock, she resorts to a more secluded pasture where she knows wolves live, and learns how to share the space with them. Later she builds an uneasy relationship with the son of the Israeli settlers. Young Adults won’t be bogged down by the subject matter as the characters are engaging and the plot is unpredictable and suspenseful.
Paperback LBN 587195 | September 2009
| | "Fire"
by Kristin Cashore This prequel takes place in an adjacent kingdom to Katsa’s in Graceling. One hopes these kingdoms converge in Kristin Cashore’s third book. Half-human, Fire possesses mesmerizing beauty while mentally she can control people around her as well. She fears and carefully cloisters her powers until she’s summoned by the quirky royal family. Gradually, Fire develops her abilities and helps war preparations. As she learns to trust herself, she learns to love the royals. Fire is a magnificent, lioness of a character developed against a pulse-pounding plot and lovely romance.
Hardcover LBN 632680 | | "Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side"
by Beth Fantaskey This YA paranormal novel parachutes a Romanian vampire--black cape and all--into a rural American town...in a vegan household, no less. His haughty, outraged letters home to Romania are laugh-out-loud funny. (See particularly his scathing missive on the “indestructible lentil” on page 47.) References to “Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health and Emotions” are also frequently hilarious. Into this satire, the author weaves a credibly steamy, stormy romance.
Hardcover LBN 639749 | | "Eon: Dragoneye Reborn"
by Alison Goodman This Young Adult fantasy has many qualities to recommend it. The setting is a richly textured Asian fantasy world with a dragon religion; but, the dragons are real and very powerful. Their priests make up a complex patriarchal political establishment into which our tentative, brilliantly talented female protagonist penetrates--disguised as a male apprentice. She is one of many well drawn characters. Meanwhile, a formidable plot races by--sword fights, formal multicourse dinners, ceremonies, murder, conspiracy, and mystery!
Hardcover LBN 617038 | | "Strange Angels"
by Lili St. Crow This is a YA paranormal, action/adventure, plot driven page-turner, and a darn good one. The main character and her father are drifters, experts at hunting werewolves and destroying them. Then her father comes home a zombie! She has to kill him, and the pages start flying. If that were all there were to this story--the first in a series--it would be exciting enough. What’s refreshing is that the writing relishes language. For example, “I looked down at the floor, that strange heat swamping my cheeks like water filling up a footprint.” Paperback LBN 617284 | May 2009
| | | "Bad Tuesdays #1: Twisted Symmetry"
by Benjamin Myers This book was recommended to me as the best book of the year, which is a pretty bold statement this early in the year, but I see the point. The plot, characters, and nature of the paranormal/science fiction/fantasy elements in this story are unlike any I can remember. The closest literary kinship I can think of is Madeleine L'Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, but even that isn’t 'weird' enough. For teens who like Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Paranormal but feel like there’s nothing new to read, this is the series for them. It came out of the slush pile and several books are ready to publish. I can’t wait. Paperback LBN 617038 | | "43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying To Meet You"
by Kate Klise I hadn’t really committed to reading this particular book--I was just going to look at it--but then the first page is a letter, followed by a reply and, well, I just kept reading. The ghost in this story appears by correspondence too, sometimes making interjections--in her font--into letters in progress by other characters. Kids who don’t consider themselves to be “readers” may do what I did, pick up this book, and be half finished before they decide to read it Hardcover LBN 615968 | | "Hunted: A House Of Night Novel"
by P.C. Cast Each season I hope for the next book in this series. Everything else becomes unimportant until I’ve heard the last word. Yes, I prefer the audio, among the most compelling I’ve listened to. I love Zoey and her friends, as they gather depth in each book and offer many laugh-out-loud comical moments as well. Hardcover LBN 601127 Unabridged CD LBN 611860 | | "Suddenly Supernatural #2: Scaredy Kat"
by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel The paranormal plot of this book moves quickly, grabbing young readers and keeping them interested. Why Kat--our young medium protagonist--can’t communicate with a boy spirit she sees, is an interesting and clever mystery. What I really liked about this book, though, is that into this plot driven story, the author weaves important ideas about Kat and her friend Jac’s growing selfhood in relation to their parents. The girls discuss their feelings about problems in emotionally healthy exchanges that are nevertheless funny, and believable, and don’t come across as didactic. The character development is engaging, and readers will be pleased that the third book, Unhappy Medium, is available in hardcover and audio. Hardcover LBN 585681 | | "Suddenly Supernatural #3: Unhappy Medium"
by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Hardcover LBN 616045 Unabridged CD LBN 611543 | February 2009
| | "Libyrinth"
by Pearl North In a future world, Libyrarians champion dwindling numbers of books from Eradicants, a religious culture that seeks to burn them. Three Libyrarians learn the location of the most important book in the world and set off to save it. This is a fine adventure story full of interesting ideas about community and humanity, war and peace. It is also an homage to books, writers, and librarians. It will make you cry, for the love of books. Any youth or child who has ever enjoyed reading a book will relish reading this one.
Hardcover LBN 616881 | | "Ever"
by Gail Carson Levine A girl must be sacrificed to the omnipotent God she and her society believe in. A lesser God from another culture has been watching her and decides to try and save her life. In the pursuit of their quest, they fall in love. Gail Carson Levine presents a compelling and suspenseful journey that also invites children to think about religious belief. Hardcover LBN 567360 Paperback LBN 567360 Unabridged CD LBN 597530 | | "Untamed: A House Of Night Novel"
by P.C. Cast The suspense is relentless in this fourth book in the best YA vampire series I've read so far. Zoey and her six closest friends are all growing and developing naturally through the books, and their supernatural powers and changes are really interesting and engaging. The audio edition is also very well done, with realistic teen dialogue and conversations. It's also refreshing to read a frankly, sexy vampire book. The readers are teenagers, after all, not toddlers. Paperback LBN 587208 Unabridged CD LBN 601128 | | "Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You"
by Peter Cameron In the summer before going away to college, an intellectual, introverted teen explores his frustrations with the shortcomings of speech. He resents that people are careless with speech and that most of what they say is redundant. His ideas are interesting and explored through conversations with his divorced parents, his older sister, a therapist, his grandmother, and others. Hardcover LBN 538483 Unabridged CD LBN 587546 | December 2008
| | "George's Secret Key To The Universe (audio CD)"
by Stephen Hawking and Lucy Hawking Noted physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy use a fairly suspenseful novel as a framework to present their idea that Physics is interesting. Blackholes, super-computer space-travel, finding other habitable planets, and saving Earth for future generations all figure into the lives of some funny and well developed characters. The audio works well to mesh enthusiasm into some dry passages. Hardcover : ISBN 0743571614 / 9780743571616
LBN # 558827 / Price $34.99 / Pub Date: October 2007 | | "Young Samurai: The Way Of The Warrior"
by Chris Bradford In 1611, Jack, a young “rigging monkey” survives a harrowing ocean crossing to Japan, only to have every last crewman on his ship massacred during a silent, night-time Ninja attack. From there, like the pacing of the Harry Potter books, this book is difficult to put down because the action never stops. Jack encounters mysterious enemies, a gracious girl mentor, a sullen rival “brother”, and the intriguing intricacies of Japanese language, culture, cuisine, martial arts, and etiquette. Excellent characterization promises that interest will build in this series with many different kinds of readers. Paperback : ISBN 0141324309 / 9780141324302
LBN # 586996 / Price $11.00 / Pub Date: August 2008 | October 2008
| | "Fairest (audio CD)"
by Gail Carson Levine This fantasy is set in a royal court where coronations, weddings, and even courtly games, are sung. A talented singer enters this world and soon finds herself tricked into singing for the talentless foreign queen. It is an intriguing, funny, romantic story, and this audio version by Full Cast Audio is truly extraordinary. If you have one audio book for Family Listening, it should be this one. Hardcover : ISBN 1934180084 / 9781934180082
LBN # 548704 / Price $43.95 / Pub Date: October 2007 | | "A Very Fine Line"
by Julie Johnston Set in small town Ontario in 1941, this novel weaves suspense into themes of sisterhood, childhood friendships, first love, supernatural ability and steadfast motherly support. Like most Tundra Books novels, every Canadian Library should have a copy. Paperback : ISBN 0887768296 / 9780887768293
LBN # 588480 / Price $14.99 / Pub Date: August 2008 | September 2008
| | "Alcatraz Versus The Scrivener's Bones"
by Brandon Sanderson Alcatraz’s second adventure is funnier, more exciting, continues good character development, and is as equally fast-paced as the first. I defy you to find a reader who would not enjoy this book.Hardcover : ISBN 0439925533 / 9780439925532
LBN # 586755 / Price $18.99 / Pub Date: October 2008 | | "Starclimber"
by Kenneth Oppel I really liked Kenneth Oppel’s bat books but his Airborn series is even better. This time Matt and his peerless love interest, Kate de Vries travel into space. Oppel has created Canada as the country sending the expedition into space and works in lots of pseudo-Canadian content. It’s a Canadian fast-paced-action-adventure-romantic-comedy-fantasy-for reluctant readers that experienced readers will also not be able to put down. Hardcover : ISBN 0002007452 / 9780002007450
LBN # 586963 / Price $21.99 / Pub Date: August 2008 | | "Graceling"
by Kristin Cashore Debut author Kristin Cashore has created a wonderful fantasy world comparable to Robin McKinley’s “Blue Sword” and “Hero and the Crown”. In Cashore’s world, people born with different coloured eyes have a “grace” or an extraordinary talent. The protagonist Katsa has a talent that’s underestimated as a killing grace. And that is just a tiny part of what I was delighted to learn promises to be a series. I would hazard to say Katsa’s courageous heart is irresistible to any teen girls who have ever enjoyed reading anything, and may well be the first breakthrough book they read for pleasure.
Hardcover : ISBN 015206396X / 9780152063962
LBN # 587142 / Price $18.95 / Pub Date: August 2008 | | "Night Runner"
by Max Turner An excellent vampire adventure from a debut Canadian author. Our teen protagonist learns that he’s a vampire and kindles a sweet, believable romance, all in the midst of various chase scenes in a few days. He runs hides, escapes, hunts and eventually fights. Through several factions of vampires and/or vampire hunters he finds allies and selfhood.Hardcover : ISBN 1554680840 / 9781554680849
LBN # 580306 / Price $14.95 / Pub Date: September 2008 | | "Word Nerd"
by Susin Nielsen Word Nerd does involve home schooling, single parenthood, peanut allergies, bullying, drug abuse, rehabilitation and death. Essentially, an overprotected lonely, boy finds a selfhood beyond his mother in a local Scrabble Club. An excellent, truthful juvenile read about being yourself. This book is perfect for all those kids who were not popular in the crazy world of public school. The setting is Vancouver and other parts of Canada.Hardcover : ISBN 088776875X / 9780887768750
LBN # 586994 / Price $20.95 / Pub Date: September 2008 | | "My One Hundred Adventures"
by Polly Horvath My One Hundred Adventures takes place over a seaside summer, so vivid you can hear the surf. Polly Horvath builds a repertoire of unique characters whose cacophony eventually forms a crazy and believable community. A funeral, where a doctor interrupts the eulogy to defend his diagnosis really is hysterically funny on many, many levels and representative of the genius of this novel. Over the summer, lots of things happen that together help the protagonist grow up a bit and feel separate from her family for the first time . Paperback : ISBN 0888999097 / 9780888999092
LBN # 587172 / Price $12.95 / Pub Date: September 2008 | July 2008
| | "Tantalize"
by Cynthia Leitich Smith In this "Breaking Dawn" preseason, you might suggest a young adult vampire book that I found interesting. Cynthia Leitich Smith creates a contemporary world where populations of Werewolves and Vampires are known to exist. Quincie, the female protagonist, has a werewolf friend, and tries to keep this fact secret from most people to avoid discrimination. Prejudices against werewolves in the legal system are discussed as are ideas about conflict with romantic relationships between humans and werewolves. It's a strong metaphor for racism and just part of what's going on in this mystery novel. If you know of any other excellent YA vampire and/or werewolf please let me know. Hardcover : ISBN 0763627917 / 9780763627911
LBN # 544675 / Price $21.00 / Pub Date: February 2008 | | "Genius Squad"
by Catherine Jinks Anyone lucky enough to have read “Evil Genius” will be happy to hear that this is its sequel. Cadel and his friend Sonia are invited to join a clandestine teenage team under the guise of a group home for troubled youth researching the activities of a company owned by Cadel’s evil ex-guardian. In the midst of fantastic espionage gadgets, kidnappings, police surveillance and wicked plans to control the world, Cadel and Sonia’s biggest conundrum continues to be figuring out human relationships. Who can they trust? A tremendously engaging young adult read.
Hardcover : ISBN 0152059857 / 9780152059859
LBN # 565896 / Price $18.95 / Pub Date: April 2008 | June 2008
|  | "Big Big Sky" by Kristyn Dunnion I think what I like best about this book - and I like lots of things about this book is the dialect the author created for her distopia world. Such as, “Oh Kronk, whafa do?” She switches between 4 main characters’ perspectives very effectively. It’s a scifi, romance where two of the main characters morph into animals halfway through the plot, among other things. Intrigued? This book target audience clearly teen girls will suck in good readers and reluctant readers alike and keep them up all night. My clear favourite so far for 2008 AND the author is Canadian. Paperback : 978-0889954045 LBN : 538393 / Price $14.95 | | "The Magician" by Michael Scott This is the second in the trilogy “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel”. I loved the first book with all my heart as my review shows - and was not disappointed with this continued, fabulous adventure. The closeness of Sophie and Josh the twins is compelling. Joan of Arc a friend of Scathach the vampire vegetarian warrior is a wonderful secondary character, but Scathach continues to be one of the most delightful characters I’ve recently met. A riveting read from start to finish. Hardcover : 978-0385733588 LBN : 557162 / Price $19.99 | | "Marked : A house of night novel" by P.C. Cast This book is a year old, but ya know, I think there might be increased demand for vampire books in a few weeks.
This series is from the perspective of someone trying to make the best of becoming a vampire. Luckily there’s a vampire school, vampire friends and so on. There are also some fabulously creepy elements to this book, and the characters confront real teen problems. Very, very well done. Paperback : 978-0312360269 LBN : 520391 / Price $9.95 | March 2008
| | "Before I Die"
by Jenny Downham I listened to Tessa’s story. I will buy it in print to savour some of the writing, it is that superb. Tessa’s first person narrative is perfect for audio and Charlotte Parry’s performance is mesmerizing. Teenage girls love stories that make them cry, and they will find none better. .
Hardcover : ISBN 0385751559 / 9780385751551
LBN # 538387 / Price $20.99 / Pub Date: September 2007
Compact Disc: ISBN 0739362887 / 9780739362884
LBN # 538389 / Price $42.00 / Pub Date: September 2007 | | "Does My Head Look Big In This?"
by Randa Abdel-Fattah Halfway through grade 11, Amal decides to wear her hijab full-time. Randa Abdel-Fattah avoids bogging down her book with didactic passages – as can happen with issue novels. Instead, Amal’s cool-headed, feminist intelligence shines through with humour and courage. You will cheer her and her decision.
Hardcover : ISBN 0439919479 / 9780439919470
LBN # 520298 / Price $20.99 / Pub Date: May 2007 | December 2007
| | "Power Plays"
by Maureen Ulrich
“Power Plays” isn’t just a hockey book for girls, although if you want to understand hockey, this is a good place to read and learn. As Jessie the protagonist finds out, playing hockey is so fast and so hard and so frustrating that scoring a goal nearly explodes your heart with joy. “Power Plays” also resonates with other pleasing and confusing emotions that punctuate a teenager’s life. Jessie’s problems with bullies and the tactics she uses for coping with them may comfort some readers or encourage them to seek help.
Paperback : ISBN 1550503790 / 9781550503791
LBN # 538467 / Price $12.95 / Pub Date: September 2007 | | "Fashion Kitty Versus the Fashion Queen"
by Charise Harper Charise Harper is sneaky. She weaves spelling and definitions into her plot without bogging down the engaging, laugh-out-loud story. But don’t take my word for it, my colleague gave this book to her daughter, a reluctant seven-year old reader, and she read it in one sitting!
Paperback : ISBN 0786837268 / 9780786837267
LBN # 517251 / Price $11.99 / Pub Date: June 2007 |
November 2007 |
| "Dragonhaven"
by Robin McKinley
Dragonhaven will keep a variety of readers up late. The story has the same majesty of Robin McKinley’s Newbery Medal book “The Hero and the Crown”, yet Jake’s engaging, distinctly teenage-toned narrative is hilarious. For example, (which he never says) he calls one of the dragons “Gulp” because whenever he sees the size of her, he says, “Gulp!” And so, he meanders through the story of how he raised an infant dragon, learned to communicate with her, and then tried to explain this to full-grown, 80-foot dragons.
Hardcover : ISBN 0399246754 / 9780399246753
LBN # 538421 / Prince $21.50 / Pub Date: September 2007
"H.I.V.E. : The Higher Institue of Villainous Education"
by Mark Walden
When Otto awakens in a school for criminally gifted children, he learns that he and all of the other students have been abducted, so he immediately hatches a plan to escape. His classes showcase fantastic gadgets and technology as he assembles a team to aid his escape. The characters and their extraordinary talents are believable and engaging, as is the development of their relationships. Readers who enjoy plot-driven narratives like Mission Impossible or Spiderman will enjoy this book. The sequel, along with the paperback edition of this title, will be published in 2008.
Hardcover : ISBN 1416935711 / 9781416935711
LBN # 525651 / Prince $19.99 / Pub Date: May 2007
Paperback : ISBN 141693572X / 9781416935728
LBN # 554888 / Price $7.99 / Pub Date: Jan 2008
The Overload Protocole
Hardcover : ISBN 1416935738 / 9781416935735
LBN # 554681 / Price: $18.99 / Pub Date: Jan 2008 | | October 2007 | | | "Thy Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World"
by EL Konigsburg
Amedeo Kaplan and William Wilcox's friendship grows while they get to know Amedeo’s nutty, hilarious, ex-opera-singer neighbour, Mrs. Zender. While the plot meanders, (touching on Nazi history, racism, sexuality, secrets, truth, and Art history) Amedeo learns, to his surprise, that he is affluent, while both William and Mrs. Zender are not. As Amedeo’s self-awareness matures, Mrs. Zender grows up a bit herself. An inspired vocal performance by Edward Herrmann adds depth and resonance to these memorable characters.
Hardcover : ISBN 9781416949725
LBN # 538168 / Price: $21.00
Compact Disc: ISBN 9780743569088
LBN # 538169 / Price: $29.99 | | September 2007 | |
| "Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians "
by Brandon Sanderson
"Alcatraz versus the evil Librarians” explores interesting ideas and is truly laugh out loud funny. It has slapstick comedy, dry humour, sarcasm and heavy-handed narrative interjections. (Now I’m going to give away the ending, so if you plan to read the book, stop reading.) (Last chance…) (Sanderson uses funny little bits like that.) (Some might find them annoying.) Evil Librarians have hegemony in Alcatraz’s world through their control of knowledge. At the end of the book, Alcatraz has a pair of lenses that can decipher any language. Does that not present exciting potential for the rest of the series?
Ages : 9+
Hardcover : ISBN 0439925509 / 9780439925501
LBN # 538071 / Price: $20.99
Compact Disc: ISBN 0545024692 / 9780545024693
LBN # 538072 / Price: $35.99
"Evil Genius"
by Catherine Jinks
What if you set up a fake online dating service by fabricating dozens of identities to “match” everyone who joined? What if you answered all their emails yourself, as these different identities, using the experience to build a computer program that predicted human behaviour? What if you liked one of the people and answered as yourself, and what if they liked the real, evil you? What if you were eleven years old? That’s a very small part of this often funny exploration of good and evil. A key character has cerebral palsy and she’s a math expert. A sequel is planned called “Genius Squad”. Male and female young adults will find reasons to love this book.
Ages : 12+
Hardcover : ISBN 0152059881 / 9780152059880
LBN # : 520314 / Price: $19.95 | | August 2007 | |
| "The Wednesday Wars "
by Gary Schmidt
“The Wednesday Wars” is set in 1960's America. Holling, our protagonist, is in grade 7 and is laugh-out-loud funny. His self-deprecating, first person narrative voice suits an audio presentation very well. It vividly captures the ludicrous humiliations he suffers, as well as his triumphs. (Click our “Audio Books” tab for further current audio titles in juvenile fiction and young adult, as well as adult fiction and non-fiction.) "... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 0618724834 / 9780618724833
LBN # 531790 / Price: $21.95
Compact Disc: ISBN 0439925010 / 9780439925013
LBN # 529462 / Price: $42.99
"Eggs"
by Jerry Spinelli
Nine-year-old David and thirteen-year-old Primrose become unlikely friends through an unpredictable and engaging plotline. They sparingly express feelings to each other, the way kids do. Their friendship becomes touchingly protective, but not saccharine, and gradually heals their bruised hearts.
Hardcover : ISBN 0316166464 / 9780316166461
LBN # 514231 / Price: $19.99
Compact Disc: ISBN 1594839700 / 9781594839702
LBN # 520308 / Price: $28.98 | | "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
by JK Rowling
“Yes, okay, I admit it. I love Harry Potter. I’m a fan. I reread “The Half-blood Prince” and couldn’t wait for “The Deathly Hallows”. I neglected housework and stayed up too late reading it. I even lost the thread of my husband’s engaging conversations because I was thinking about Ron and Hermione and Harry. Kreacher’s involvement was a nice touch. Not that it matters, but I loved “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 1551929767
LBN # 512975 / Price: $45.00 | | July 2007 |
| "Becca at Sea"
by Deirdre Baker
“This book is set on an idyllic island in British Columbia. Becca spends a few successive summers with her Grandmother. Becca sails, saves the island garden, swims beneath Aurora Borealis and beside a baby seal, and more. Through these incidents and against a backdrop of intermittent relatives, Deirdre Baker deftly shows Becca mature from a child with many internal dialogues, to an articulate and assertive girl. Well done."
... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 088899737X
LBN # 538076 / Price: $18.95
"Eragon" & "Eldest"
by Christopher Paolini
“Eragon” and “Eldest” surprised me. As expected, both have marvelous battles, quests, dragons, magic, and so on. The romantic impasse, however is unique. The character Eragon loves Arya – an alluring, elf beauty. The problem is that she’s 100 years older! The tension between them is really well done. Gerard Doyle does an excellent job on the voices, even if the dragons’ were a bit disappointing. Each character is distinctly recognizable, especially the women." ... Helen Wilding Cook
"Eragon"
Hardcover : ISBN 0375826688 / 9780375826689
LBN # 343305 / Price: $26.95
Paperback : ISBN 0375840540 / 9780375840548
LBN # 503109 / Price: $14.50
Compact Disc : ISBN 0739330942 / 9780739330944
LBN # 489929 / Price: $52.95
"Eldest"
Hardcover : ISBN 037582670X / 9780375826702
LBN # 372343 / Price: $27.95
Paperback : ISBN 0375840400 / 9780375840401
LBN # 505359 / Price: $16.00
Compact Disc : ISBN 0307280721 / 9780307280725
LBN # 432528 / Price: $75.00
"Island - Book 1 : Shipwreck"
by Gordon Korman
"This Canadian author creates an adventure that engages from the first page, or in the case of the audio, from the first word. Holter Graham’s performance is effective, unobtrusively making each character recognizable. Reluctant readers, good students, athletes, and TV junkies will all find something to cheer about as a group of kids fight to survive after their yacht sinks. The only reader I would not recommend this book to would be someone planning a sailing holiday." ... Helen Wilding Cook
Paperback : ISBN 0439164567
LBN # 274403 / Price: $6.99
Compact Disc : ISBN 0439925436 / 04399254436
LBN # 510620 / Price: $24.99 | | June 2007 | | | "Terrier: Beka Cooper Book 1"
by Tamora Pierce
"Beka Cooper’s trilogy is set in Pierce’s Tortall world where Beka empowers young female readers to believe in themselves. In the audio version, the narrator did an excellent job varying speed, accent, and inflection to distinctly portray at least seven endearing characters. Beka’s journal entries make up the majority of the book and are well suited to an audio presentation."... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 037581468X / 9780375814686
LBN # 491647 / Price: $24.95
Compact Disc : ISBN 0739337181 / 9780739337189
LBN # 489928 / Price $69.95 | | May 2007 | | |
"Stoneheart"
by Charlie Fletcher
"Stoneheart made me cheer! George Chapman (12) learns to believe in himself as he walks – and increasingly runs - around in downtown London, England – running because he sees gargoyles peel off walls, statues jump off plinths, etc. He has inadvertently started a war, and the gargoyles and dragons are not on George’s side! Jim Dale did a wonderful job with small changes in his voice to differentiate the characters. Happily, “Stoneheart” is the first in a self-titled trilogy." ... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 034091162X / 9780340911624
LBN # 520465 / Price: $21.95
Compact Disc : ISBN 0545003652 / 9780545003650
LBN # 526553 / Price $47.95 | |
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret"
by Brian Selznick
“This book literally gave me goose bumps. Selznick's combination of pictures and text not only emulates the overly slow and melodramatic enchantment of “silent film", but in doing so he pushes the parameters of “the novel”. Like “The Three Golden Keys” by Peter Sis is for the picture book, this novel is a groundbreaking achievement." ... Helen Wilding Cook
Hardcover : ISBN 0439813786 / 9780439813785
LBN # 505392 / Price: $27.99
Compact Disc : ISBN 0545003636 / 9780545003636
LBN # 520827 / Price $35.99 | |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 September 2010 )
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