Whitman Library Blog

• Cast, P.C.  Burned

The latest “House of Night” novel.

• DK Eyewitness Books  Endangered Animals
• Doctorow, Cory  For the Win

I whole-heartedly recommend the first half of this book.  It’s an intriguing look into the world of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer On-line Role Playing Games) and the intense devotion of their fans around the world.  The story of a number of young people who play these games and make money doing it, and how the games create a sort of global economy is told through multiple points of view, and by the second half of the book I was fairly hopelessly confused by the scenes switching between the U.S., China, and India. Doctorow raises important economic issues and has created some fascinating characters, best for motivated and capable readers which in this case did not include me.

• Gray, Claudia  Hourglass

The latest “Evernight” novel.

• McMullan, Margaret  Sources of Light

1962, Jackson, Mississippi.  Fourteen year old Samantha moves there, with her Vietnam war widowed mom who is taking a job at a local university so that they can be closer to her husband’s extended family.  Sam is puzzled by the obsession with the War of Northern Aggression in her history class, attracted by conflicted southern boy Stone, and ashamed of the hand-me-down clothes from her cousin that make her feel self-conscious.  There’s lots of depth to the beginning and middle of the book, especially as Sam struggles to accept Perry, mom’s co-worker and romantic interest who introduces Sam to photography.  As the books wind down, the plot feels hastily resolved – grandma just happens to know an editor who is sympathetic to the cause of civil rights for example, but the positives outweigh the negatives, and when Sam’s family helps a car with a flat tire containing young white men driving down from the north to help with voter registration, it gave me shivers.

• Montgomery, Sy  Kakapo Rescue, Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot

If Ms. Montgomery writes it and Nic Bishop does the photography, chances are good that I’ll buy it.  This amazing team has produced another beautiful, clearly written description of efforts to save an endangered animal that is realistic, hopeful, and memorable.  Montgomery is a master at creating a story arc in non-fiction, and I found myself emotionally involved with the chances of survival for these flightless parrots who live only in New Zealand.

• Nolan, Lucy  Home on the Range

Another in the delightful “Down Girl and Sit” early reading series.  Canines Down Girl and Sit visit the wild west and seriously misjudge what’s happening on a cattle drive when they conclude that there must be a fence close by, since all those cattle are off their leashes.  Impeccable dog logic.

• Parker, Robert B.  Chasing the Bear

Mr. Parker is a hugely popular writer for adults, and here he offers a look at his protagonist, Spenser, as a fourteen year old.  The writing style is sparse and direct, with short, action-packed chapters featuring an abused girl and a Hispanic boy who need Spenser’s help.  There are multiple flash-backs as Spenser recalls his teen years as a grown-up that will be more satisfying to adults than to teen readers, but there’s plenty to like here for teens as well.

• Quick, Matthew  Sorta Like a Rock Star

Amber and her mom are clandestine residents of the school bus mom drives, hungry and almost homeless as mom chases escape through alcohol and dreams of finding the right man to fix her life.  Though she has plenty of sharp edges, Amber is a walking advertisement for the importance of resiliency and she manages to form significant and sustaining relationships with her marketing teacher, the principal of her high school, and her priest Father Chee.  Proud and independent, Amber is an English tutor for members of Father Chee’s parish, where she transforms her class of struggling learners into the Motown-promoting Korean Divas for Christ among her many service learning gigs.  When her mom is brutally murdered, the community Amber has served pulls together to sustain her as her persistent hope is swallowed by despair.  Amazing characters; I loved this story.

• Resau, Laura  The Ruby Notebook

Sequel to The Indigo Notebook.  I haven’t read it yet, but those who have were pleased.

• Ripley’s Believe It or Not Special Edition, 2010

• Strasser, Todd  Wish You Were Dead

Not all that well constructed or well written, but the sheer creepiness of the plot will keep the reader turning pages.  Madison’s from a wealthy, privileged family as are most of the students at her high school, but she’s managed to focus on community service and treating others well, avoiding the snotty, mean girl rep of many of her friends.  When Lucy, Madison’s high-strung best friend, disappears without a trace, there’s concern in the community, but when Adam, Lucy’s boyfriend vanishes a few weeks later, there’s full-on panic.  Madison is terrified and tormented by these events and begins receiving cryptic notes written on napkins from someone who appears to know what might have happened to Lucy and Adam.  The notes and the person who is sending them are the weakest, least believable part of the plot but the description of what happens to Lucy and Adam is truly horrific.  Not for those with weak stomachs, but many kids will really like it.

• Yolen, Jane  Lost Boy, the Story of the Man Who Created Peter Pan 

J.M. Barrie’s life in Yolen’s spare words along with carefully chosen quotes from Barries’ work and interesting illustrations.  A picture book biography.