Emily's Fortune a Bluestem Nominee with possibilities

Emily's Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2010. 

Emily has been sheltered all of her life living in big Ms. Luella’s house until her crazy driving kills her and her mom. Now all Emily has is little Rufus, her little pet turtle as she is trying to figure how to get to her Aunt Hilda’s house.  Traveling by stagecoach is not fun especially when you have never done anything outdoors or been wild. Moreover, there are the Child Catchers and her evil Uncle Victor trying to get her after finding she has a large inheritance from Ms. Luella.  During her travels, Emily meets Jackson, also an orphan who will try to teach her how to survive in the Wild West, but can she really trust him?  Could he be working for Uncle Victor?    

This historical fiction is a great read for American Girl followers.  I liked this book a lot more than I thought I was going to and found myself cheering Emily and little Rufus.  Naylor does a fantastic job at creating remarkable characters with distinct personalities and traits. The book includes lovely sepia drawings and each chapter end with big bold cliffhangers. Check it out at our library. 

A Great Monarch Picture Book

Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Henry Holt & Company, 2011.

“Same, same but different” is a saying Nepal natives use to compare cultures and it is the perfect title for this beautiful picture book.  The author/illustrator shows readers how two kids from different countries- United States & India- can experience the same events in different ways. From going to school to having pets, Elliot and Kailash show us in their pen pal letters how they are similar and different at the same time.  The illustrations are colorful and full of details made with acrylics, crayons, pencils, collage and tissue paper.  This is a great book to start a conversation about our unique differences and similarities.

Rogue

Rogue by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Penguin Young Readers Group, 2013. Copy provided via inter-library loan.

Kiara has struggled all her life with making friends and controlling her emotions. Now that her mom has left and she has been suspended from school, all she has is Mr. Internet to make sense of her world.  When Chad moves next door Kiara tries to figure how to become friends but his trouble past will lead them to risky decisions.  Would Kiara endanger herself and others to keep a new friend? 

This is a great book with the unique perspective on Asperger’s syndrome, friendship, and acceptance.

 

Half Way Throrugh Summer Reading

It has been a busy summer attending my first ALA conference, implementing online summer reading, and catching on my juvenile and YA reading. As I start to look towards Fall planning I realized that lately I have abandoned my picture books- I am still reading picture books to my youngest but I haven’t been grabbing the newest arrivals, well that changed yesterday when I managed to snag a couple new picture books. And of course they were great!

Lazy Daisy, Cranky Frankie by Mary Ellen Jordan and Andrew Weldon Albert Whitman & Company, 2011. 

This is no ordinary rhyming farm, none of the animals do what they are supposed to do like “my pig, she’s called Nancy. She should like mud, but she’s too fancy.” And while none of our farm friends follow their animal instincts they are all good at one thing…what would that be?  The illustrations are cartoonist with thick black lines and white backgrounds.  I loved the surprisingly funny rhyming and the silly illustrations.Check it out at our library.

 

I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs, Templar Books, 2013. 

This was a lovely surprise that is going straight into my Baby Bloomers story time. I loved the oversized pictures and the simplicity of the book- great to review colors and letters, animals and sounds.  The reader has a spread to guess what animal is peeping at them thru a circle followed by the next spread with a full view of the animal looking back at you.  The circles are cleverly positioned to capture the animal’s eye to continuously look at the reader. I am already thinking of a fun game of “I Spy” to play with my babies and tots. Check it out at our library.

So what else have I been reading….

Three Ring Rascals The Show Must Go On!   Kate Klise, illustrated by Sarah Klise. Release date Sept. 10, 2013
I got this galley copy at ALA and if you have read any of Kate and Sarah Klise work you know they are funny and quick paced.  This new series is sure to be another success like 43 Old Cemetery Road with a combination of drawings, letter exchanges, and witty narration. 

W.A.R.P. The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer, Puffin Books, 2013. 

I read this book for a possible fall program and I must confess that I wasn’t crazy at first as it was a bit confusing and slow paced, but as you start to figure where you are in time- present or past- it gets better and ends with a new villain lurking in the shadows.  The story revolves around Chevron, a special FBI Teen assigned to a secret location in London, and Riley,  who was abducted as a child by a magician turned assassin for hire. These two orphan tales connect when a witness in a very special witness protection program tries to use time travel technology to travel back from the past.  Chevron and Riley must figure how to use a wormhole to travel back in time and set things right in our present. Check it out at our library.

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos, Starscape, 2013.  
This was another one I read thinking of a possible program, the first installment in a new middle-grade series dealing with futuristic societies and space cadets. Copy provided by borrowing library.

 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Henry Holt & Co., 2013.

This is the sequel to Bone and Shadow . In the first book we meet Alina and Mal, orphans whose past and future are linked to Alina's powers. In the second book, we experience Alina's transformation as a Grisha- humans with magical powers to command natural elements- as she learns to use her powers and battle against the Darkling. There is a love story, power struggle,  forbidden magic, and much more. Check it out at our library.

 

The Sasquatch Escape. The Imaginary Veterinary Book 1 by Suzanne Selfors, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013. 

I enjoyed this fast pace adventure/mystery.  I especially like the suggested activities and book discussion questions. Copy provided by borrowing library.