Stay With Me

I just finished reading the new young adult novel Stay With Me by Garret

Freymann-Weyr. Set in New York City in the year following 9/11, it is the

story of sixteen-turning-seventeen year old Leila trying to discover all of

the stories that make up her family after the sudden suicide of her much older half sister. Because she is dyslexic, she is perhaps more capable than most to take the nessecary time to understand things before coming to quick conclusions. Although it was hard to always relate to Leila with her being one of those tall, beautiful, uppercrust Manhattan types, I genuinely liked her because of her thoughtfulness and keen perception of the people and circumstances around her. Presenting a wealthy, gorgeous, well-traveled and fabulously complicated network of characters, the book could have easily become pretentious. But because of Leila it escapes this --things happen subtley and the characters are essentailly all good, likable people. Ultimately, as the dust jacket states, Stay With Me "is about how impossible and important love is." Recommended, especially when looking for fiction that deals with dyslexia, suicide, NYC after 9/11, and teen relationships with older love interests.

Re: Mrs. Mike

I recently reread Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman. I had read it as a

teenager and loved it for the adventure, romance and resiliency of the lives of

Katherine Mary Flanagan and her Mountie. I wondered if it would hold up to

my expectations after so many years. I was not disappointed. In our era of luxury, technology and instant gratification reading this book will remind one of the value of family, friendship, committment and character in the face of tragedy, loss, and hardship. I think this book would be great for early high school and up.

7to8 book club reads

These are two newer books that I came across while preparing for last month's 7to8 Book Club and rather liked.
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin (ages 8-11).
A 99% autobiographical account of one year (yup, you

guessed it, the year of dog from the lunar calendar) in the life of a Twainese-American girl growing up in a small upstate NY town. Pacy, as she's known at home while called Grace at school, shares her experiences of what it's like to be culturally different from most of the other kids in her community and how confusing this can often be. It's year of self-dicovery, finding hidden talents, and making a special new friend. A delightful read, especailly for learning about Asian-American culture.
Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels by Lucy Nolan

(ages 7-10)
What would we do without dogs to save the world from menacing squirrels and pesky birds? Lucky for humans, there are dogs like Down Girl and Sit to protect us! Told from the point of view of Down Girl, this funny book offers four chapters of their neighborhood adventures, including protecting garbage cans full of treasures from Here Kitty, Kitty and avoiding the dreadful creature who lurks behind the backyard fence (the little girl next door who is known to dress pets up in humilating doll clothes). Recommended for young dog lovers!
Martha

Alas...another test!

Testing yet again...

Old books worth a read now!

I recently read on Roger Sutton's blog (editor in chief of Horn Book Magazine) that some people consider Holes by Louis Sacher to be the best children's book written. (I don't recall if "ever" was in the sentence, but it was implied.) Well I have never warmed up to that book so I was pleased when someone commented likewise and suggested The One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox as an alternative. I had never read it, so I did.

The One-Eyed Cat is a thoughtful novel about guilty secrets on the 9 to 11 year old level. It is really quite engrossing, though not fast paced. I'm not sure about "best", but I'm really glad I went back to read this 1984 book.

While I was reading old books I took a look at Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. Wow! When you think that parts of that story were published in SciFi magazines in 1977, and the whole was originally published in 1985, it is stunning in it's vision of the future that is almost now. Except for the interplanetary travel, it's all here: virtual multi-player games, and chatting on "the net," for example. I know Bonnie Kunzel has been raving about this book as long as I've known her. I join the cheerleaders. Try it out even if you don't like Sci Fi (I don't) - there is enough character development and plot here to keep you engrossed. I assure you.

Hi all

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Just a test to see if this works

Murdock, Catherine. Dairy Queen.
Target age - about 5th, 6th, 7th. very innocent
A funny, hardworking farmgirl from a family of star football players is given the job of
coaching the cutest guy imaginable from the rival team. DJ reels you in easily
to her world of the farm and her determination to help hold things together until her
father recovers from an accident. And that annoying, spoiled guy she's training of
course turns out to be very nice. Unspoken difficulties her family finds too painful to face
are dealt with and give the story some depth. This is a fun summer romance. 4+ Ann

JU-READS First Post

Welcome

After agreeing that better communication of what we are reading (and what we recommend or
pan) is VERY DESIRABLE, we now have our own Blog to share that information!! So, anytime you have read something, either good or bad, please share!!


How about we try to include author, title, target age, publication date, brief description, do we recommend it?or not?, your name so we can ask you more questions about the book if we want to know more.

Springer, Nancy Case of the Missing Marquess (An Enola Holmes Mystery)
Target age -probably 4th, 5th, 6th grade. Mystery. 2006. This is the first of a


fun little series starring the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. Enola


(alone spelled backwards) is as sharp as her famous brother, but she knows


the world of and the wiles of women, which Sherlock dismisses as unimportant.


Women are unreliable and unpredicatable beings after all!
Fun and recommended. (About a 4 out of 5) Ann

__________________________

Bates, Judy Fong Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. Target age - Adult

Alex Award Winner. 2005. Takes place in a small town in Canada in the

50's, a Chinese immigrant family who own a Chinese Restaraunt, told

through the eyes of a 10-11 year old girl. Sort of a gently told story
with very unusual family circumstances and sadness. Not a barnburner but interesting. (About a 3 out of 5). Ann