Fancy Nancy has a new interest--poetry. She's studying it in school and compiling an anthology. She learns that many things are poetic including nursery rhymes and song lyrics. Nancy's foray into poetry leads to an experience with writer's block. She just can't find a subject for her poem. Or can she?
What I thought: With her normal enthusiasm, Fancy Nancy introduces her devoted fans to the art of poetry. I think this book is inspired. It introduces even younger readers to poetry. I like that Fancy Nancy not only reads but writes poetry. Her anthology collection is a great idea. As is her teacher's poet-tree. This book will pair well with all the great poetry books out there. Karma Wilson's What's the Weather Inside? is a great collection. Older readers will like Creech's Love That Dog and Hate that Cat, Woodson's Locomotion, and Spires' The Mouse of Amherst.
(Illus. Robin Preiss Glasser. Harper, 2010)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
You know where we left off. Nora safe. Bad guy dead. Killer (against his will) turned guardian angel Patch ever protecting Nora.
The guardian angel gig isn't what it should be. No fraternizing with the assignments. Yes, we can see how this would be a problem as Patch and Nora share a strong attraction.
This isn't the only problem. There's the new guy Scott Parnell. Evil or just really weird? Time will tell.
And the Black Hand? What is it? What does it have to do with Nora and her father's death.
Oh, and hate much? Marcie Millar is full of it these days.
Vee remains the one constant on Nora's life through all these upheavals like any best friend would, but she's developed an interest in Patch's friend and fellow angel Rixon that keeps her more that occupied.
What I thought: Finally! A sequel I didn't have an "eh" reaction to. Could be that I haven't read Hush, Hush in a while. Nora and Patch's relationship is as angsty as ever. Gotta love it! Somehow Patch seemed less appealing in this book. Could be the mystery is gone. Or that he was a little absent from the story. Unlike the first book which left the ending open to a sequel, but didn't demand one, Crescendo ends with an awful cliffhanger. Fans will groan and feverishly check and note the publication date of the next book, Tempest (which is scheduled to be published this fall, in case you were wondering). The mystery in Crescendo was as good as Hush, Hush. I had no clue about any of it. I'm still a fan of the books' mythology (fallen angels, etc.) A solid sequel.
(Simon & Schuster, 2010)
The guardian angel gig isn't what it should be. No fraternizing with the assignments. Yes, we can see how this would be a problem as Patch and Nora share a strong attraction.
This isn't the only problem. There's the new guy Scott Parnell. Evil or just really weird? Time will tell.
And the Black Hand? What is it? What does it have to do with Nora and her father's death.
Oh, and hate much? Marcie Millar is full of it these days.
Vee remains the one constant on Nora's life through all these upheavals like any best friend would, but she's developed an interest in Patch's friend and fellow angel Rixon that keeps her more that occupied.
What I thought: Finally! A sequel I didn't have an "eh" reaction to. Could be that I haven't read Hush, Hush in a while. Nora and Patch's relationship is as angsty as ever. Gotta love it! Somehow Patch seemed less appealing in this book. Could be the mystery is gone. Or that he was a little absent from the story. Unlike the first book which left the ending open to a sequel, but didn't demand one, Crescendo ends with an awful cliffhanger. Fans will groan and feverishly check and note the publication date of the next book, Tempest (which is scheduled to be published this fall, in case you were wondering). The mystery in Crescendo was as good as Hush, Hush. I had no clue about any of it. I'm still a fan of the books' mythology (fallen angels, etc.) A solid sequel.
(Simon & Schuster, 2010)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Tale of Ginger & Pickles by Beatrix Potter
First published 1909
57 pages, 13 color illustrations, 20 black & white illustrations
Ginger and Pickles run the village shop. However, the over extension of credit necessitates that the give up their shop. Their customers are less than pleased.
The History Behind the Tale (Linder (197-204):
The Tale of Ginger and Pickles began as a present to Harold Warne's daughter Louie. A great many of Beatrix's beloved characters frequent the shop. They include Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Tiggy-winkle. Ginger and Pickles, like The Pie & the Patty-pan and The Roly-Poly Pudding was originally published in a larger format. Beatrix expanded her original manuscript to introduce John Taylor, a resident of Sawrey, as a dormouse in the book. According to Linder, many prefer the original manuscript to the published one as the subplot of John Dormouse makes the story as a whole unbalanced.
Miniature Letters (Linder 84):
Ginger & Pickles to Lucinda Doll
Lucinda Doll to Ginger & Pickles
Ginger & Pickles to Lucinda Doll
My thoughts: While Ginger & Pickles is not a favorite of mine as a story, the color illustrations are particularly well done. I liked seeing the characters from all of the other books appear in the shop. I thought Peter Rabbit looked rather sickly when he visits the shop.
Favorite Illustrations: Customers outside the shop (18, color), The Dormouse House (47, color)
I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. This concludes my Beatrix Potter Reading Project. I'll be back with you shortly with a wrap-up discussion of the project. Until then, happy reading!
57 pages, 13 color illustrations, 20 black & white illustrations
Ginger and Pickles run the village shop. However, the over extension of credit necessitates that the give up their shop. Their customers are less than pleased.
The History Behind the Tale (Linder (197-204):
The Tale of Ginger and Pickles began as a present to Harold Warne's daughter Louie. A great many of Beatrix's beloved characters frequent the shop. They include Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Tiggy-winkle. Ginger and Pickles, like The Pie & the Patty-pan and The Roly-Poly Pudding was originally published in a larger format. Beatrix expanded her original manuscript to introduce John Taylor, a resident of Sawrey, as a dormouse in the book. According to Linder, many prefer the original manuscript to the published one as the subplot of John Dormouse makes the story as a whole unbalanced.
Miniature Letters (Linder 84):
Ginger & Pickles to Lucinda Doll
Lucinda Doll to Ginger & Pickles
Ginger & Pickles to Lucinda Doll
My thoughts: While Ginger & Pickles is not a favorite of mine as a story, the color illustrations are particularly well done. I liked seeing the characters from all of the other books appear in the shop. I thought Peter Rabbit looked rather sickly when he visits the shop.
Favorite Illustrations: Customers outside the shop (18, color), The Dormouse House (47, color)
I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. This concludes my Beatrix Potter Reading Project. I'll be back with you shortly with a wrap-up discussion of the project. Until then, happy reading!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Werewolves raised her. After Bryn's parents' vicious death by a Rabid when she was only four, the Alpha Callum adopted and marked her. Bryn has no reason to distrust Callum until the day she finds a newly turned teen werewolf in his basement. Chase's comment haunts Bryn..."I was bit." The further discovery that Callum didn't kill the Rabid who destroyed her parents drives Bryn to bond herself to Chase. She turns her back on the pack and they her. With the help of a few devoted friends, Bryn sets out to find and kill the Rabid because the Werewolf Senate won't.
What I thought: This book is something different. I like different when it comes to paranormal. I couldn't put this book down. Bryn is a compelling narrator and heroine. Raised by Wolves is an unusual take on the usual werewolf story. Watching Bryn negotiate both the human and werewolf worlds was great. Her understanding of a world she's not truly a part of is excellent.
All the characters were interesting. (Ms. Barnes, can I tempt you into writing Callum's story. I'm sure there's one there. After all, he is a thousand or so years old.) Dev offers the comic relief. I look forward to seeing Bryn and Chase's relationship develop. This book was more about Bryn coming into her own than a romance. Maybe that's why it's so great. Melissa Marr (I really need to read her books!) gave Raised by Wolves a solid endorsement. I can't help but agree with her thought my knowledge of werewolf books is limited to Blood & Chocolate, Shiver, and Linger. I think Raised by Wolves is my favorite werewolf book at the moment.
(Egmont, 2010)
What I thought: This book is something different. I like different when it comes to paranormal. I couldn't put this book down. Bryn is a compelling narrator and heroine. Raised by Wolves is an unusual take on the usual werewolf story. Watching Bryn negotiate both the human and werewolf worlds was great. Her understanding of a world she's not truly a part of is excellent.
All the characters were interesting. (Ms. Barnes, can I tempt you into writing Callum's story. I'm sure there's one there. After all, he is a thousand or so years old.) Dev offers the comic relief. I look forward to seeing Bryn and Chase's relationship develop. This book was more about Bryn coming into her own than a romance. Maybe that's why it's so great. Melissa Marr (I really need to read her books!) gave Raised by Wolves a solid endorsement. I can't help but agree with her thought my knowledge of werewolf books is limited to Blood & Chocolate, Shiver, and Linger. I think Raised by Wolves is my favorite werewolf book at the moment.
(Egmont, 2010)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Andi's not having the best year. Still dealing with her brother's accidental death, she's going through the motions. Music is the only bright spot in her dreary, medicated life. The threat of failing spurs her absentee genius of a father to action. He takes Andi with him to Paris during winter break. His only demand--write a good (meaning "A" quality) outline for her senior thesis. With a French mother, Paris is like a second home to Andi. The discovery of a diary hidden in a guitar pulls Andi out of her own problems and into the life of a girl who lived centuries ago during the Revolution. Andi's life becomes intertwined with Alexandrine's. Andi not only learns first hand about those red days but finds a way out of her own issues.
What I thought: Donnelly certainly doesn't write anything light and fluffy. Revolution is as heavy hitting and riveting as A Northern Light was. The juxtaposition of modern day Paris with Revolution era Paris is inspired. I think Donnelly may have hit upon a way to get teens to read historical fiction. (I've heard that it's not normally their favorite genre.) Both Andi and Alex were complling characters. My knowledge of the French Revolution doesn't extend much beyond Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (which I hated when forced to read it in high school). I've always been interested in history and must admit that Donnelly has piqued my interest in this era.
(Delacorte, 2010)
What I thought: Donnelly certainly doesn't write anything light and fluffy. Revolution is as heavy hitting and riveting as A Northern Light was. The juxtaposition of modern day Paris with Revolution era Paris is inspired. I think Donnelly may have hit upon a way to get teens to read historical fiction. (I've heard that it's not normally their favorite genre.) Both Andi and Alex were complling characters. My knowledge of the French Revolution doesn't extend much beyond Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (which I hated when forced to read it in high school). I've always been interested in history and must admit that Donnelly has piqued my interest in this era.
(Delacorte, 2010)
Friday, January 21, 2011
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Discontent with life after his father disappears, Jacob Reckless is all too ready to accept that another world exists on the other side of the mirror--the world that made fairy tales popular. In that world, Jacob creates a new life for himself. Life isn't perfect, but it's bearable. That is, until the day his brother Will follows him through the mirror and gets cursed. Can Jacob save his brother before it's too late?
What I Thought: Wow! This book was hard to put down. Perhaps not as beautifully written as Inkheart, nevertheless, Reckless is just as riveting. I love the idea of Mirror World. Fans of Michael Buckley's Sisters Grimm series and Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy will enjoy Reckless. The sprinkling of fairy tale legend and lore was fascinating. I really need to follow through on my resolution to read all of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Jacob is a compelling hero. He has all the traits that appeal to female readers (me included)--loner, misunderstood, brooding, and can handle himself in a fight. The age of all the characters (20s) guarantees Reckless will have a wide readership.
The supporting characters are great. I particularly like Jacob's sidekick, Fox. I look forward to watching their relationship develop in future books.
Would Reckless be considered high or low fantasy? Normally, I can't read high fantasy. I recently tried to read Robin McKinley's Pegasus and just couldn't. If Reckless is high fantasy, I think I can read it because of all the fairy tale stuff. The book has a very 10th Kingdom feel to it.
A promising start to a new series. I'm so glad to see something other than the paranormal that abounds these days. Don't get me wrong, I read and enjoy just like the next reader, but Reckless is something different. Is it a coincidence that Jacob and Will share their first names with the Grimm Brothers?
(Little Brown & Co, 2010)
What I Thought: Wow! This book was hard to put down. Perhaps not as beautifully written as Inkheart, nevertheless, Reckless is just as riveting. I love the idea of Mirror World. Fans of Michael Buckley's Sisters Grimm series and Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy will enjoy Reckless. The sprinkling of fairy tale legend and lore was fascinating. I really need to follow through on my resolution to read all of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Jacob is a compelling hero. He has all the traits that appeal to female readers (me included)--loner, misunderstood, brooding, and can handle himself in a fight. The age of all the characters (20s) guarantees Reckless will have a wide readership.
The supporting characters are great. I particularly like Jacob's sidekick, Fox. I look forward to watching their relationship develop in future books.
Would Reckless be considered high or low fantasy? Normally, I can't read high fantasy. I recently tried to read Robin McKinley's Pegasus and just couldn't. If Reckless is high fantasy, I think I can read it because of all the fairy tale stuff. The book has a very 10th Kingdom feel to it.
A promising start to a new series. I'm so glad to see something other than the paranormal that abounds these days. Don't get me wrong, I read and enjoy just like the next reader, but Reckless is something different. Is it a coincidence that Jacob and Will share their first names with the Grimm Brothers?
(Little Brown & Co, 2010)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes by Beatrix Potter
First published 1922
33 pages, 16 color illustrations
This second collection of rhymes from the creator of Peter Rabbit contains eight rhymes and charming illustrations.
The Rhymes: Cecily Parsley, Goosey Goosey Gander, This Pig, Pussy Cat, Three Blind Mice, Bow Wow Wow, The Garden, & Ninny Nanny Netticoat
The History Behind the Tale (Linder 251-253):
Like Appley Dapply, the rhymes in Cecily Parsley began long before the official publication. After Appley Dapply's popularity, Warne wanted a sequel. Due to Beatrix Potter's failing eyes, Cecily Parsley was a patched together affair using mostly old drawings.
My Thoughts: I wasn't as impressed with Cecily Parsley as I was with Appley Dapply. The rhymes are less original. I've heard most of them elsewhere (e.g., Three Blind Mice). My favorite rhyme was "The Garden."
Favorite Illustrations: Three Blind Mice (25), guinea pigs' garden (29 & 31)
I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes. Next week, I'll explore The Tale of Ginger & Pickles and that will complete my Beatrix Potter Reading Project. Until next time, happy reading!
33 pages, 16 color illustrations
This second collection of rhymes from the creator of Peter Rabbit contains eight rhymes and charming illustrations.
The Rhymes: Cecily Parsley, Goosey Goosey Gander, This Pig, Pussy Cat, Three Blind Mice, Bow Wow Wow, The Garden, & Ninny Nanny Netticoat
The History Behind the Tale (Linder 251-253):
Like Appley Dapply, the rhymes in Cecily Parsley began long before the official publication. After Appley Dapply's popularity, Warne wanted a sequel. Due to Beatrix Potter's failing eyes, Cecily Parsley was a patched together affair using mostly old drawings.
My Thoughts: I wasn't as impressed with Cecily Parsley as I was with Appley Dapply. The rhymes are less original. I've heard most of them elsewhere (e.g., Three Blind Mice). My favorite rhyme was "The Garden."
Favorite Illustrations: Three Blind Mice (25), guinea pigs' garden (29 & 31)
I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes. Next week, I'll explore The Tale of Ginger & Pickles and that will complete my Beatrix Potter Reading Project. Until next time, happy reading!
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