Dead Silence

Caution!  You’ve GOT to read the first three books in Kimberly Derting’s creeptastic Body Finder series (The Body Finder, Desires of the Dead, and The Last Echo) before reading the fourth book, Dead Silence. Each book builds on the one before it, and all of them are pretty great. If you’re looking for a wonderful supernatural mystery series, you definitely want to give this one a try!

I’m not sure what’s going on, but lately I’ve been craving a good mystery. Maybe I’m just experiencing Sherlock withdrawals, but the past two books I’ve read have been mysteries, and I’m only craving more. Within the next week or so, I’m hoping to read Social Suicide, the sequel to Deadly Cool, and Game, the sequel to Barry Lyga’s I Hunt Killers–both mysteries. (Of course, I’m watching my share of mysteries on the telly as well:  Ripper Street, Criminal Minds, all the Law & Order reruns I can handle, etc. Good stuff.)

Anyway, my latest read, Dead Silence is the fourth book in The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting. This entire series is awesome, and this fourth book definitely went a long way in satisfying my longing for a good mystery. (I’d probably be even more satisfied if I knew there would be more books in this series!) Dead Silence is a real page-turner, and it lives up to the three books that preceded it, and I would definitely recommend the entire series to anyone who likes a bit of woo-woo, supernatural stuff with their mysteries.

Dead Silence continues to follow Violet, who can sense echoes of those who have been murdered. She can also sense the imprints of those echoes on the murderers. Her “gift” has gotten her into some dangerous situations. She’s even been a target of a serial killer herself. That experience left Violet with more than just horrible memories. She now carries an imprint herself, for she had to kill or be killed. It’s a lot for any teenager to handle, but Violet is not like most teenagers…

With the help of a therapist she can’t stand and a team of other “gifted” individuals (who she’s learning to tolerate), Violet is coming to terms with her abilities…even the imprint that disturbs her waking and sleeping hours. She still feels the pull of the echoes of the dead, but maybe–just maybe–she can control her desire to find the dead and those who killed them.

Then again…maybe not.

When Violet is led to a murdered family, it’s clear that she’s leaping before she looks yet again. Once more, she finds herself involved in an investigation that will lead her down some dangerous roads…roads that she may not be ready to travel. For this murder scene is not like most others. A strange symbol has been left in blood at the crime scene, a daughter is missing, and one of the bodies is missing an echo. Violet knows this person was murdered, but where is the echo? And if there’s no echo, is there no imprint on the killer?

Violet will find some of the answers she’s seeking in an unexpected place–her grandmother’s journals. Her grandmother shared the same gift Violet has, and she documented a lot of what she went through…including what a missing echo could mean. Grandma also wrote about a group of individuals gathered together, all of them with odd abilities. Violet will learn more about her gift, but she may also learn more than she expected about her own team…and who may have brought them together.

As Violet searches for answers about her own life and team, she’s also trying to figure out who could have possibly murdered an entire family…and possibly many others. Who is this madman, and how is he controlling those around him, convincing them to do his bidding? What hold could he have on them, and what led him to kill?

Violet will have to lie to everyone she cares about in order to solve this mystery…but is she really prepared for the consequences of so many lies? And when the truth is finally revealed, what could it mean for Violet and those closest to her? Can Violet keep her friends and family safe when chaos, pain, and death seem to follow her? Is there any way to balance her desire to use her gift for good with her need for a “normal” life? Is “normal” even possible? Unravel the mystery when you read Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting.

Once again, this post doesn’t come close to capturing how amazing I think this book is. I was captivated from start to finish, and I REALLY hope there are more books in this series. (Considering the way things ended, I’m hopeful, but I can’t find any mention on the interweb of more Body Finder books. Bummer.) As I was reading Dead Silence, I was also halfway watching a documentary about the Manson family. The similarities between that notorious group and the bad guy(s) in this book are very noticeable and thought-provoking, and it makes this book an even more engrossing read.

I don’t know if I would recommend this book to middle grade readers, simply because some of the imagery is kind of graphic. (Of course, they probably see worse when playing Call of Duty.) There’s also a couple of steamy scenes (nothing gratuitous) that younger readers may not be ready for. (Again, this is not true for all readers. Some young ones are probably have more experience with this than I’m comfortable admitting.) Like I’ve said before, know your readers and what they can handle. Recommend books accordingly.

If you’d like more information about Dead Silence, the rest of the Body Finder series, and other books by Kimberly Derting, visit http://kimberlyderting.com/index.php. You may also want to check out the Dead Silence book trailer below. It doesn’t give too much away, but it kind of makes Violet seem creepier than she is in the books. Just my opinion…

Requiem

Spoilers! If you haven’t already, you simply must read Lauren Oliver’s Delirium and Pandemonium before continuing with this post. It may also be a good idea to read the Delirium novellas–Hana, Annabel, and Raven–as they give a lot of insights into the minds of some pretty major characters in this trilogy. Also, I would recommend reading Requiem, the final book in this series, in a padded room. It’s either going to drive you crazy, or you’ll want to throw the book across the room. The padding may also muffle the sounds of your cries of anguish. You’ve been warned.

For those still reading this post, I assume you’ve gathered that I just finished Requiem, the third and final book in Lauren Oliver’s Delirium series. Like Clockwork Princess a couple of weeks ago, it took me longer than anticipated to get through this book. Again, I wanted to prolong the drama, but I’d also heard from a couple of people that the ending would drive me insane, and I was trying to put that off…even when the book’s events were keeping me up at night. Well, I finally finished the book this morning, and the ending did make me go a little nuts, but it was also kind of satisfying. (I’m sure other readers out there will disagree with me on the last part of that sentence.) I feel like I’ve been through a lot with Lena, Alex, Hana, Raven, Julian, and the others, and I needed at least some measure of closure with these characters and their captivating stories. (In some cases, I got a little more closure than I would have liked.)

I don’t want to tell you too much about this book because I don’t want to spoil the reading experience for those who are just discovering this series or those who are finishing up as I was. I will say, though, that Requiem is told in two viewpoints:  Lena, on the run in the Wilds, figuring out how to balance her feelings for Julian and Alex, wondering if the cure would have provided her more freedom than her current situation, and still fighting for a better future; and Hana, facing marriage to the future mayor of Portland, a man who isn’t as great as he would appear on the surface, wondering what happened to his first wife, and trying to cope with the startling possibility that her “cure” wasn’t entirely successful. At first glance, it would seem that these two viewpoints are wildly different, but, as the story progresses, the lives of these two former friends once again converge. Both are facing war on seemingly different sides, but both of these girls long for the freedom they experienced as children. They must discover, though, just what they’re willing to sacrifice to be truly free.

I probably gave way too much away in the previous paragraph, but there’s still a lot in this book to be discovered. Lena’s journey is nothing short of heart-breaking. The same can be said for everything that Hana goes through. I haven’t even touched on what happens to Alex, Julian, Raven, Annabel, and several other important characters–some we’ve seen before, and some who are brand new in this story. This book is by no means a happy-go-lucky tale, but when we’re talking about revolution, I guess that’s to be expected. Lives are lost, love is found, and the war for freedom is coming to a head. Will the resistors be successful? Or will the establishment finally succeed in wiping them out and finally putting an end to amor deliria nervosa, the disease we would call love?

Even though I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about how Requiem ended, I do think that it’s a fitting finale to this wonderful series. The first book, Delirium, is on the 2013-2014 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award nominee list, and I hope that teen readers who take the time to read the first book see things through to the bitter end. If you’re looking for a way to get readers interested in this series, casually mention that fans of the Hunger Games or Ally Condie’s Matched series will love it. That should do the trick.

*There is a fair amount of totally justifiable cursing and violence in this book, so be careful when recommending Requiem to middle grade readers. Like any other YA book, know your readers, and be aware of who can handle mature language and situations.*

If you’ve got a first edition of Requiem, you’ll definitely want to check out a short story about Alex at the end of the book. It provides a lot of information on this fascinating character and goes a long way in explaining his past and his attitudes in this entire series.

For more information on Requiem, the entire Delirium series, and any other books by Lauren Oliver, visit her website at http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/. This site also provides links to the author’s Facebook and Twitter pages as well as her blog. Enjoy!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted here on Knight Reader, and I’m sorry about that, but many of you know at least some of the reasons why. I won’t go into all of that here, but I’m hopeful that things have taken a turn and that my reading (and blogging) will get back on track.

One of the books that’s been helping me get through some tough times is one that I’ve been meaning to read for a while but just never got around to. That book is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I know I’m late to the party when it comes to this book, but it just seemed like I needed to read this book right now. (For those who care to know, this book was originally published in 1999. I like to think I would have devoured this book if it had been released when I was in high school. Alas, that was not the case.) I guess reading about someone else’s issues made it a little easier to deal with my own.

Stephen Chbosky’s moving tale of Charlie–told in letters to someone only known as “Dear Friend”–give readers a glimpse into what life is like for this rather troubled young man who is starting his freshman year in high school in 1991. (I started high school in ’93, so the time setting was rather familiar to me.) Charlie starts off the year friendless, but he soon grows close to a couple of people who will change his life forever. Patrick and Sam, a couple of seniors who happen to be brother and sister, kind of take in Charlie as one of their own. Charlie finally belongs somewhere, but he is still dealing with a bit of darkness within himself…and he’s learning more about his friends and life itself.

Patrick, Sam, and their group of friends value Charlie for his ability to take in the things around him without judging anyone. They call this being a “wallflower.” Charlie simple calls it finally being part of something.

As the year progresses, Charlie, Patrick, and Sam experience the highest of highs (often quite literally) and the lowest of lows. Charlie even comes to grips with something that happened as a child that, even without him knowing, has had a huge impact on his relationships with others. All throughout this tumultuous year, Charlie learns more about himself, his family, his friends, and what it means to really “participate” in the world around him. Even he can’t go through life constantly being a wallflower.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. Fans of John Green will adore this book (if they already don’t). I wish this book had been around when I was in high school. Maybe then I would have felt like I wasn’t so alone when most of my friends went off to college and left me behind. (Most of my closest friends were two years older than me.)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower provides a rather frank look at a year in the life of one teenager who is dealing with some major issues and trying to figure out who he really is. As such, there is some swearing, sex, drugs, a lot of (pretty awesome) rock and roll, drinking, homosexuality, smoking, and dealing with situations that no one–child or adult–should ever have to face. This is not a book for the weak-minded. The literary allusions alone are enough to make this book one to take seriously. (How many YA novels introduce readers to novels like The Fountainhead? Really?) Some teens will be able to handle this book. Some won’t. The same is true for adults.

I look forward to finally seeing the movie adaptation of this fantastic book. I just hope it does justice to its amazing source material.

The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini

This will not be a standard post, but please bear with me.

Like most avid readers, I use books to escape from the pressures of everyday life. Something happened a couple of days ago, though, that even books can’t really help me with. (Please allow me just this little bit to get this out, and I’ll get to my latest read.) On Sunday morning, my uncle was killed in a tragic accident. Anyone who knew my wonderful uncle knew that he was larger than life, so the news of his death was a shock to everyone. I still don’t fully believe it. I’m waiting on him to walk through the door with his huge smile and a hug for everyone he encounters. Everyone adored him, and none of us can really process why this happened. Right now, the platitudes that people offer during times like these mean absolutely nothing to me (or the rest of the family, I imagine). We simply want David back.

I haven’t mentioned this to anyone except my mother, but my uncle’s passing has hit me very hard. You see, Sunday wasn’t just another day for me. It was my birthday. For the rest of my life, I’ll associate that day with the loss of one of the men I loved most in the world. I’m sure the rest of my family will feel the same. My birthday is no longer something to celebrate. That date is something to mourn. I don’t even know how to reconcile that in my own mind, and I know my uncle would fuss about this, but I just can’t help it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get past my feelings about this, but it is not this day.

I do ask everyone to keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. We’ll need all the help we can get to make it through this tragedy.

I did try to escape through a book during the past couple of days. I put away the book I was reading (which dealt with way too much death), and I began reading a somewhat light-hearted novel that I thought would lift my spirits just a little. That book was The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini by Peter Johnson. (I’ll be calling this book Houdini from this point forward. That title is a little long to keep typing.)

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit that I read this book because one of the teachers at my school was concerned about some swearing in it that a third grader had brought to her attention. Before I made any decisions on whether to keep or remove the book from my school library, I knew I had to read it, so I figured now was as good as any time. Yes, there is a little swearing (the “d” word a couple of times), but, in my opinion, it was not gratuitous, and it fit the character’s situation. (Not every kid is raised in a wholesome, religious, stable, conservative family.) The main character also mentions that a good, publishable kid’s novel (which he’s trying to write) shouldn’t contain any explicit sex. (He’s right, by the way.) Some kids and parents might simply see the phrase “explicit sex” when browsing through this book and decide to throw a conniption fit. I was a little concerned as well…until I actually read the book.

Houdini tells the tale of a thirteen-year-old, nicknamed Houdini as the title suggests, who has decided to write a novel about his life after hearing an author speak at his school. He explores what makes a good kids’ novel and proceeds to write the happenings of his rather eventful life. He talks about his family’s struggles with making ends meet, his brother’s deployment to Iraq (and what happens when he eventually returns), dealing with the neighborhood bully, and his relationships with his friends and neighbors. At the end, even Houdini is surprised at how writing (and noticing) everything around him changes not only him but his family and friends as well. He realizes that nearly everything is interconnected and that, if he takes the time to really get to know someone, they may just surprise him.

Even in this dark time in my own life, Houdini put a smile on my face. This was a good book that I think a lot of readers, particularly boys, will relate to. After reading it, I will say that this is not a book I would recommend to a third grader. I think this book is okay for readers in fifth grade on up. Middle grade readers will enjoy it.

Here’s the big question: am I going to remove Houdini from my school library? No. I think it does have a place in the elementary library, but I do believe library professionals–including myself–should know their readers and be mindful of which readers are mature enough to handle a book like this one. (Also be aware of which parents or teachers will have a problem with a bit of swearing or frank talk between a group of thirteen-year-old boys.) As I’m sure everyone knows, maturity levels vary greatly between a group of kids (or adults). What one reader may find offensive or scandalous, another will view as commonplace or even funny. As always, keep this in mind when recommending any book to a reader, no matter what his/her age may be.

Pie

Now that next year’s South Carolina Book Award nominees have been announced, you’ll likely be seeing a few more children’s books featured on this blog than you’re used to. I put these books on this blog and my elementary book review blog simply because I think these books will appeal to students in both upper elementary grades and middle grades, as well as some YA and adult readers. (And let’s all remember that the Harry Potter books were marketed as children’s books. Quite frankly, I judge anyone–no matter what age–who hasn’t read these works of awesomeness.)

I’ve already read and reviewed two of the books on the 13-14 SC Children’s Book Award Nominee list (Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick), and this weekend, I decided to read one more. My pick was Pie by Sarah Weeks. This was a really fast, easy read, but it pulled at my heartstrings a little bit…and it made me really want some pie. (I’m diabetic, so that’s not really a good thing.) It also contained a bit of a mystery that readers will be as eager to unravel as Alice, our totally relatable main character, was. Technically, Pie is a work of historical fiction (it takes place in 1955), but it doesn’t really read that way. In my opinion, this book is totally accessible to all readers, and almost everyone will be able to find something they can identify with.

Alice Anderson’s world is turned upside down when her beloved aunt, Polly Portman, passes away suddenly. To everyone else, Polly was the Pie Queen of Ipswitch, but Alice thought of Polly as her best friend in the entire world. She doesn’t really care how much everyone else missed Polly’s pies. Alice simply misses her Aunt Polly…until something happens that puts Alice–and her aunt’s cat Lardo–into the center of a mystery.

It seems that Aunt Polly’s highly coveted pie crust recipe was left to Lardo in her will. And Lardo was left in the care of Alice. Why would Polly–a very smart and not at all crazy woman–leave her prized recipe to her cat? How did she even do this? Of course, everyone is curious about this, but Alice is starting to think that someone is curious enough to commit crimes–like burglary and catnapping–to somehow get greedy hands on this recipe that her aunt valued so much.

Alice tries to take her concerns to her parents and even the police, but no one (except her friend Charlie) believes her. So Alice and Charlie do some investigating of their own. Suspects abound, especially since everyone seems determined to take Aunt Polly’s place as the Pie Queen of Ipswitch. It’s up to Alice to figure out who the real culprit is. Will she be able to solve the mystery? And what will she learn about herself along the way? Read Pie, a sweet mystery by Sarah Weeks, to find out!

With each chapter starting with a delectable pie recipe, I plan to really market this book to my students who frequently check out cookbooks. (A lot of kids are into cooking. Who knew?) This is a really sweet (pun intended) book that, yes, does contain a bit of a mystery, but also explores the bonds of family and friendship. It also teaches an important lesson about using one’s own talents and not worrying about what someone else may be good at or the recognition they may receive (a message that even I needed).

For more information about author Sarah Weeks and her books, including Pie, visit the author’s website. I just got a great idea from this site that I may try at my school next year. How cool would it be to have a mother-daughter book club for Pie and have participants bring in their favorite pies or try some of the recipes listed in this book? I just hope I can get someone to bring in a sugar-free pie!

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder

When I became an elementary school librarian, it didn’t take me long to realize that some of the books I would be reading–and promoting–would deal with a fair amount of potty humor.  For some reason, that kind of stuff especially appeals to 2nd-5th grade boys and girls.  The ever-popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has its share of grossness.  The Captain Underpants books are also in high demand.  Well, I was recently introduced to the first book in a new-ish series that takes potty and fart “humor” to a whole new level.

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbø is, as one can tell from the title, a book about a very powerful fart powder. I received a free copy of this book, and I decided to give it a quick read before I put it in my school library.  That was a wise decision.  At times it was funny, but I really wasn’t thrilled about reading a book where the main focus was flatulence.  I quickly grew tired of the entire premise.  I’m thinking many of my students might feel the same way.  (At least, I hope so.)

This story takes place in a small town in Norway, and a tiny young boy named Nilly has just moved into the neighborhood.  He and his new friend Lisa kind of inadvertently become assistants to the strange Doctor Proctor, who is trying to invent something that will make him famous.  And Doctor Proctor has done it.  He’s invented a fart powder that will make people have super-powerful farts with no bad smell.  In addition to the regular version of this powder, he’s also created a special powder that will lift who ever ingests it into outer space.  It’s Fartonaut Powder!

Nilly and Lisa decide to sell the regular powder to the kids at school, making them instantly popular.  They, along with Doctor Proctor, decide to send the special powder to the scientists at NASA, but, before they can go through with their plans, thieves decide to steal both powders!  Now, Doctor Proctor and Nilly are in a world of trouble, and Lisa needs to find a way to fix everything.  It won’t be easy, and it may just involve sewers, trickery, an anaconda, and escaping from a seemingly inescapable prison.  (Who knew a book about farts could be so suspenseful!)  Will Lisa, Nilly, and Doctor Proctor win in the end, or will all of their plans–ahem–run out of gas?  Read Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder to find out!

Anyone who knows me can probably already surmise that I wasn’t a big fan of this book.  I don’t like potty humor (most of the time), so a book that was essentially one long fart joke kind of left me cold.  Also, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the writing, and I think it will be hard for some young American readers to relate to the Norwegian setting.  While this book does have some merits, and I will tell some of my students about it, I don’t think this is one I’ll be putting in my school library.  There are better books that are not so blatant with the fart humor and have the same kind of voice that was present in this book.  Do with that what you will.

If you’ve ever seen the absolutely dreadful British children’s movie Thunderpants (starring a very young Rupert Grint), you might already have some idea of what Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder is like.  That movie and this book are very similar and, in my opinion, equally bad.

If you enjoy a good fart joke and still want to give Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder a try, you might also like to know that this is only the first book in the series.  As far as I can tell, there are four books so far.  You might want to check on Amazon or Goodreads for the exact series order.

Devilish

Several days ago, I began reading Devilish by Maureen Johnson. This is one of the many books that has been on my “to-read” pile for quite some time, so I thought I’d give it a try, thinking that it would be a perfect read for spooky Halloween times.  Luckily, I was right.  I had planned to finish this book on Halloween, but I admit that I had other things to do, and I didn’t finish Devilish until yesterday.  (This year was my niece’s first Halloween.  She was dressed as Wonder Woman, so I spent most of Halloween taking pictures and much of the next day looking at said pictures. She was adorable.)  So anyway, I finally finished reading Devilish last night, and it was everything I’ve come to expect from Maureen Johnson.  This book was suspenseful, horrifying at times, hilarious throughout, and the main character was brilliant and fluent in sarcasm.  Good times.

Jane Jarvis may be the smartest girl at her Catholic school, but that doesn’t make her senior year any easier.  She and Allison, her best friend, are outcasts at best, and Jane’s main goal is to get through this year and make it to college.  Allison, though, still nurtures a small hope that she can somehow achieve the popularity that has always eluded her.  And, all of a sudden, it happens.  One day, Allison shows up to school with a flattering new haircut, new clothes, confidence she never had, and she seems to know all the answers in class.  Jane knows something weird is going on, especially when she discovers that Allison, her best (only) friend in the entire world, is now going out with Jane’s ex-boyfriend, Elton (a boy who Jane is still not over).  Who is this horribly different person that her supposed best friend has become?  And what brought on this sudden change?

Jane soon learns that nefarious forces are at work, and Allison has sold her soul to a truly heinous, evil being (disguised as a teenage girl) in exchange for popularity and confidence.  Being the good friend that she is, Jane, of course, jumps right into the middle of this mess and gets herself into so much trouble that it will take some divine intervention to get her out of it.  Jane will have some unexpected help, but will she be smart enough to accept the assistance being offered?  And will Jane be able to save Allison and herself before both of their souls are consumed by the evil plaguing their town?  Read Devilish by Maureen Johnson to learn how the quests to belong, get what you want, or gain power can sometimes lead to a deal with the devil.  Is there a way out of such a bargain? You’ll just have to see…

If you’re looking for a book that is in turns funny, suspenseful, and scary (especially if you were raised in a religion–like I was–that preached the realness and dangers of the devil), I think Devilish might just be the book for you.  The book, while humorous, also highlighted the darkness that exists in the world.  Evil exists.  I don’t think anyone can question that.  But what is the root of evil? And is there any way to stop it or reverse its effects?  I’m afraid I don’t have the answers to those questions.  (I’m not sure that anyone does.)

Had to get serious there for a moment.  It’s the lapsed Southern Baptist in me.

Anyhoo, if you decide to read Devilish and like it, you should give Maureen Johnson’s other books a try, especially The Name of the Star.  I loved that book so hard and can’t wait for the sequel.  I also urge you to visit Ms. Johnson’s website (http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/index1.html) and follow her on Twitter @maureenjohnson.  I’ve been following her for about a year, and her tweets make me laugh to the point of crying sometimes.  This woman is seriously funny.

True (…Sort of)

I love it when new books remind me of old favorites.  My latest read, True (…Sort of) by Katherine Hannigan, brought to mind such favorites as The Great Gilly Hopkins and Maniac Magee.  This nominee for the 2012-2013 South Carolina Children’s Book Award tells the tale of Delly, a young girl who has a very close relationship with trouble.  (I have a feeling quite a few of my students will identify with Delly.)  No matter what she does, or how good her intentions might be, Delly gets into predicaments that get her labeled as a “bad kid.”  Now, Delly knows she’s not really bad, but the people around her are starting to make her think that she’ll never outrun the trouble that always seems to follow her.  With the arrival of a new kid in town, however, Delly may have a chance to turn everything around…

No one knows much about Ferris Boyd. The new kid never talks, can’t be touched, spends all her time alone, and is often mistaken for a boy.  Delly Pattison, though, sees Ferris Boyd as her way out of trouble.  When Delly–and her little brother RB–are with Ferris, trouble seems to stay away.  And Delly desperately needs to keep away from trouble, or her parents will send her to a reform school–or a reDellyformatory. 

Even though Ferris doesn’t talk, Delly, Ferris, and RB find a way to communicate and form real friendships that will help all of them through the issues they’re facing.  Even though Delly is quite familiar with her own brand of trouble, Ferris is dealing with something much more serious…something that has robbed her of the ability or desire to speak.  With the help of Delly, RB, and Brud, another unlikely friend, Ferris will be able to come to terms with the fear that has held her captive.  And Delly will learn that some things–like the safety and well-being of a dear friend–are worth the risk of getting into a little trouble.

True (…Sort of) is a quick, often hilarious, read that will grip readers from the first page.  Delly is a character that is often misunderstood by those around her, something that nearly everyone can relate to on some level.  Her quest to stay out of trouble is admirable, and readers will rejoice in her successes, but they’ll also be wowed by Delly’s ability to find a bit of fun in the small things around her and turn even the most mundane things into Dellyventures. 

I also think young readers will be inspired by Delly’s vocabulary.  Her made up words tell so much about her personality, and I hope that my students will create their own vocabulary to explain the truly unique things about their own lives.  (There is a “Dellyictionary” at the back of this book with a list of words and definitions for all of the words Delly uses throughout the book.)  Even the non-cuss words Delly makes up tell readers how unique–and creative–this character is.

Even though this book is lighthearted at times, it also deals with a serious issue.  This issue is personified in the character of Ferris Boyd, and it will be all too easy for readers to realize that something is really wrong in this young girl’s life.  Her selective mutism and aversion to touching tells everyone that this girl has been through something awful.  She may still be involved in something no child should ever have to deal with.  Delly sees what others don’t.  She sees that her friend is sad and afraid, and, even though Delly knows she’ll get into trouble for helping Ferris, she does what no one else has before.  She puts Ferris’ safety above everything, and that decision changes more than one life…for the better.

True (…Sort of) is a book that will resonate with readers of all ages, and it is my hope that we’ll all pay a little more attention to children who might otherwise be overlooked, especially the “troublemakers” and the “invisible.”  Sometimes, these are the kids who need us the most and who are just looking for their chance to shine.

For more information about True (…Sort of) and other books by author Katherine Hannigan, visit http://www.katherinehannigan.com/.

Cheesie Mack Is Cool in a Duel

*Cheesie Mack Is Cool in a Duel is the sequel to Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything.  It’s not absolutely essential that you read the first book before this one, but it would definitely help.  Also, the first book is made of awesome, so you need to read it anyway.*

If there is a perfect summer read for kids who just finished the fifth grade, Cheesie Mack Is Cool in a Duel, written by Steve Cotler and illustrated by Adam McCauley, might just be it.  As a matter of fact, this is an excellent summer read for kids of all ages, especially those of us who have ever been to summer camp!  (It made me fondly recall my own summers at Camp Marietta.)  Everything that made Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything a great read also holds true for this sequel.  Cheesie’s voice is delightful and laugh-out-loud hilarious, and I know my students will love this book as much as they are currently eating up the first one (which is nominated for the 2012-13 South Carolina Children’s Book Award).

In Cheesie Mack Is Cool in a Duel, readers follow Cheesie, his best friend Georgie, and a whole cast of characters to Camp Windward (for boys) and Camp Leeward (for girls) in Maine. (Events in this book pick up right where they left off in the first book.  It’s the summer after fifth grade graduation.)  Cheesie is sure that this will be the best summer ever because he and Georgie will be the oldest of the Little Guys at camp. Unfortunately, thanks to events that occurred in the first book, things don’t quite work out the way Cheesie had hoped. Now, Cheesie and Georgie are the youngest in the Big Guys group at camp. (Not a big deal if you’re already kind of big like Georgie, but it’s bad news if you’re already a little guy like Cheesie.)  This presents a whole new set of problems, and the biggest one is probably Kevin Welch, his sister Goon’s boyfriend.

Camp Windward is not off to a stellar start, but Cheesie comes up with a way that might help him to make the best of things.  He challenges Kevin to a Cool Duel.  Whoever is voted the coolest in their cabin at the end of a week is the coolest guy at camp!  Kevin gets out to an early lead, but Cheesie isn’t a quick-witted kid for nothing.  He comes up with a couple of things that are sure to earn him some votes.  But will he get enough votes to win the Cool Duel?  You should definitely read this book to find out!

Even though the Cool Duel is a big part of this book (hence the title), there’s also a lot of other stuff going on:  a dance with the girls from Camp Leeward, sneaking into the computer lab, snakes, a talent show, and the most epic scary story in the known universe.  Cheesie also introduces readers to exciting new words (only a few of which are made up) and questions to ponder.  Cheesie’s website, http://cheesiemack.com/, also plays a big part in this book.  This wonderful site makes this book, like its predecessor, truly interactive. 

All in all, Cheesie Mack Is Cool in a Duel is the perfect follow-up to the first book, and I can’t wait to see what Cheesie gets up to next!  (FYI, the third book, Cheesie Mack Is Running Like Crazy!, will be out in June of 2013.  I can’t believe I have to wait that long!  Ugh!!!)  I’m working on organizing an author visit with Steve Cotler to Greenville County (South Carolina) elementary schools in February.  I’m so looking forward to having discussions with my students and the author about both of the wonderful Cheesie Mack books and, hopefully, what we can expect in the third!

After All, You’re Callie Boone

Today, I finished yet another of the nominated books for the 2012-13 South Carolina Children’s Book Award.  After All, You’re Callie Boone by Winnie Mack was a quick read–ideal for summer–that really resonated with me.  I identified with the character of Callie, and I think that a lot of other young girls–and even some older readers–will as well.

Callie Boone’s summer is not off to a good start. Her best friend since the first grade has, all of a sudden, decided that she’s too cool to hang out with Callie. Her uncle has moved twelve ferrets into the family garage. At the community pool–one of Callie’s favorite places in the world–she embarrasses herself in such a public and humiliating way that she can never go back there again. Her family is crazy, she has no friends, and she’s the laughing stock of her neighborhood. Will things ever get better?

Well, yes. She’s still got her diving practices with her dad, and Callie is nurturing a dream of becoming a champion diver–maybe even competing in the Olympics someday. Despite her public humiliation at the pool, Callie is determined to be the best diver she can be–even though she’s not even twelve.

Something else is going okay in Callie’s life. A new kid has moved in next door. He’s a little odd–his name is Hoot–but he may turn out to be the best friend Callie has ever had…if she can convince everyone that he is most definitely not her boyfriend.

As her summer progresses, Callie learns a bit about what it means to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good person. Everything doesn’t always go well, but Callie discovers who she can truly lean on when things don’t go the way she plans. She starts paying more attention to those around her instead of focusing on herself all the time. But what will happen when tragedy strikes and Callie is forced to really trust in those around her, especially her crazy family and her friend Hoot? Will she revert back to her old ways, or will she step up and be the girl everyone thinks she can be? Find out if Callie can make it through when you read After All, You’re Callie Boone by Winnie Mack!

Even though it didn’t take me very long to read this book, I was engrossed from the first page.  Callie’s voice is so relatable that I almost thought I was reading about my own childhood.  Yes, my family can be a bit crazy.  (Anyone at today’s family reunion can probably testify to that.)  But we stand by each other through thick and thin.  That’s something that Callie and I definitely have in common.

One other thing that I identified with was Callie’s relationship with her former best friend.  The same kind of situation occurred in my own life when I transitioned from elementary to middle school.  All of a sudden, I wasn’t cool enough to hang around with the girls I had grown up with.  I didn’t get invited to birthday parties or sleepovers.  It was painful.  (Obviously, I still have a few issues with this.)  I didn’t really care about makeup, boys, shopping, or any of the supposed “girly” things that some of my former friends thought was all-so-important as we moved to middle school.  (And to be perfectly honest, I still don’t care about those things very much.)  I think a lot of young girls probably feel the same way, so Callie definitely gives those girls a character to identify with.

After All, You’re Callie Boone is a short, oftentimes fun, read, but I will warn you that it does pack an emotional punch.  Toward the end, I had to break out the tissues.  I kind of love it when that happens.  After all, tears are a sign that a book has engaged your mind and your heart and truly made you feel something.  That’s true for me anyway.

If you’d like more information about this book or author Winnie Mack, I encourage you to visit http://www.winnie-mack.com/.  Enjoy!