The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski

I bought this on the advice of several friends. I'm a fan of "The Dog Whisperer," have a "pack" of 3 dogs, and am fascinated with issues of training animals. I don't really have enough time to do a good job with my pets (2 of them actually belong to my children). This book is pretty realistic about the amount of time and attention that it takes to properly train animals and to run a kennel. [BTW--my youngest brother has a kennel--primarily Basset Hounds--they show and breed them.]

I've also had direct experience with what can go wrong with a family farm. I've said before, Jane Smiley only scratches the surface of what can go wrong. Here's another book that focuses on the complexities of rural life and the supposedly "idyllic" farm family.

Two days after having finished I'm still pondering a number of themes. Was the Sawtelle farm cursed from the beginning? Is this a tragic story, a coming-of-age story, or a morality tale? Why make Edgard mute?

This is a book that could be placed in a high school curriculum. It's a bit long to read, but passionate readers wouldn't be bothered by that. I'd love for our local 9th graders to be allowed to read this along with "To Kill a Mockingbird." I think it makes a great companion read.

Now for the bad part--I'm not in love with the ending. No spoiler here--but I wish somehow that the ending was different. When you finish reading then email and we can discuss the ending.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Trenton_Lee_Stewart

This is the second in the series. The Society is established in England and has four amazing children with unusual abilities who have to work together to save the world/day. I enjoyed the first one well enough that I'm reading the second.

It reminds me somewhat of Diane Duanne's Wizard series (So You Want to be a Wizard, etc...)

The White Darkness by by Geraldine McCaughrean

This is challenging reading--you have to really be ready for visualizing the action and setting. The main character, Sym, gets "kidnapped" by her "uncle" and and dragged off to Antarctica. Much of the book is the gradual psychological exploration of how Sym got to this place both physically and emotionally. It is also a pretty good review of the psychology behind some of the explorers and adventurers. I had read "Into Thin Air" a while ago by John Krakauer. It's about climbers dying on Mt. Everest (he was almost one of them). The idea of what makes people pursue extreme sports is one I like to explore sometimes.

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a reading accident. I download audio books to my smart phone and this was on the library's website. I went through a "dragon" phase about 6 years ago and decided to go ahead and listen to it. It was surprising. I hadn't read the first book so I started this cold and had to figure out the context. That wasn't too bad, but it would be a good idea to go back and read the first.



I'm definitely appreciating the historical perspective. I need to read up a bit on this period in China. I don't remember there being much of a French presence. Using fiction to explore history is a great idea. But, I worry that if authors don't get the facts right they may be creating misinformation in reader's minds.


View all my reviews.

Still Life With Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Agent Pendergast is at it again. This time he leaves the New York city area and Museum of Natural History for the corn fields of Kansas. This is quite a scary book and gripped me as a reader. It doesn't have the atmosphere of the Pendergast books set in New York, but it does explore the Plains Indians, caves, and Kansas a bit. (Also genetically engineered corn.)

I would definitely recommend this to young adults who like the horror genre. It has redeeming values for the study of history, politics, university funding, and sciences. It is appropriate reading for high school students and some junior high/middle schoolers. There is a minimum of sex, but quite a bit of violence that may be disturbing to some readers. (But that's what attracts the others.)


2.5 stars

Pendragon Book Two: The Lost City of Farr, by D.J. McHale

Another Pendragon series book. In this volume Bobby travels with his uncle Press to a water-world, Cloral. There they meet Spader and contend with Saint Dane (the force of darkness/evil). I think I'm going to give up on this series. Some young readers craving action, science fiction and fantasy will find this series of interest. It is rather predictable series book. These are good for developing reading muscle, but not really great works of literature.

My strongest criticsm of the series is the flatness of the characters and the lack of gray tones. Although evil disguises itself things are pretty much either evil or good.

The Pinhoe Egg, by Dianna Wynne Jones

This is number six in the Chrestomanci Series. I love these books. They are short, more ironic, but less complex Harry Potter-read a-likes. I found Dianna Wynne Jones looking for Potter read a-likes and found her book "The Dark Lord of Derkhelm." In "The Pinhoe Egg" you have two extended families of magicians hiding out right under the "great man Chrestomanci's" rule. The families have placed spies in the Chrestomanci household. Meanwhile the Pinhoe's gammer (female lead) has been befuddle by the Farleigh family gammer and the Pinhoe gaffer has died.

All the adults get so caught up in intriques and revenge that the children are allowed to carry on as they will (for the most part). In her attempts to help Marianne Pinhoe gives Cat Chant a globe from the attic. This begins the entire series of events: the globe hatches a griffin, curses and counter curses plague the towns, and Chrestomanci seems preoccupied.

Of course all works out for the kids. Meanwhile readers will get insights into friendship, trust, faith in others, honest, and feuds. This is a series I would recommend to children grades 4-7 depending upon their reading skills, interests, and interest in fantasy.

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray

This is a Victorian girl's finishing school story with a supernatural twist. Voya recommends it for 10-12 grade students. I agree with that evaluation. It is a somewhat challenging read, a longish book, and has some mature content although no explicit sex. However, all that being said, this is a book I am going to recommend to lots of students (and perhaps my daughter). It is complex and really delves deeply into the development of friendships between young girls and the temptations that many girls face.

I'm always looking for connections. It appears to be a good portrayal of Victorian girls schools and the era. It also begins in the British governed India. This is a book I listened to on my smart phone. There was a great surprise at the end--the author had a relatively long autobiography of the process she used to write the book including a trip to England for research. This alone is a wonderful addition. Young women reading may be motivated to consider sophisticated research for their writing projects.

The Cabinent of Curiosities, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

This is 0ne of a series of books featuring "Special Agent Pendergast"of the FBI. As a popular fiction "crossover" (adult/young adult) book it is a good read. I am always looking for interdisciplinary connections. In this book I find connections to the study of historical New York City, biochemistry, genetics, and antiques. It is a book that would appeal to many high school students and some junior high. If you have students who are fans of the suspense or horror genre this is a book that is better written than many, could be "taught" in a classroom (it doesn't have too much sex or violence), and has some opportunities to engage students in additional reading and study.

I was in NYC this fall and have read many books set in New York including almost all of Edith Wharton. I enjoyed this--it takes me closer to Central Park and spans both contemporary and historical events. There is also some brief exploration of immigration and sweatshops. It is a minor component of the book, but is treated in enough detail to be helpful in a history class. (At least the beginning of the book which could then be offered as an out of class reading for those interested in finishing it.)

Avalon High, Meg Cabot (2006)

Cabot is the popular author of several series of books for female adolescents including the somewhat famous Princess Diaries series. This book, perhaps the first in a new series, takes the Arthurian legend to modern high school. It's actually a pretty good read and would make a great companion book to other Arthurian books. The main character mirrors Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott. In our area many students read The Green Knight as a required reading. I am personally a greater fan of Nancy Springer's series that looks at the main characters in the Arthurian group from fresh perspectives. These including I am Morgan le Fay: A Tale from Camelot and I am Mordred: A Tale from Calemot. Both a great books to help students explore voice and point of view. Avalon High would make another nice companion to this set of books but would contribute more to explorations of setting and mood although voice and point of view certainly could be included. FYI--Springer is also taking this series to "manga" (a cartoon style).

Young Zorro: The Iron Brand, by Jan Adkins

I loved Isabelle Allende's version of Zorro so as soon as I saw this title I picked it up. It began a little slowly--but soon I fell into the plot and setting. Set in the Pueblo de los Angeles in the 1700's this would be a great novel for Hispanic kids with an interest in the history of California or Hispanics in the USA. I think teens will enjoy the plot line and character development while at the same time learn a lot about the history of California and the relationships between Native peoples, the Roman Catholic church, and Spanish explorers.

No historian, I can only hope that the details of this book are accurate. (That might be a good task for my next historical reading project!)

One interesting link to a more advanced read would be the plot device--a modern descendant of the de la Vega family is called in when a secret room full of artifacts is discovered after an earthquake. This is reminiscent of Laurie R. King's device of the artifacts her narrator is sent that initiates the Mary Russell series. When teaching kids how to write fiction this is a great place to begin. How can an object be the initiating event for a story? In King's books the artifact does indeed serve as the initiation of the tale. In this book it is just the chest with ancient papers telling the stories that begins the tale.

I certain hope for more books in this series. We need lots of readings for Hispanics students and a better historical view of the development of American cultures in the western states.

The School Library Journal's reviewer wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the book as I. He called it a "Hardy Boys" knock-off. Having worked with striving readers most of my life, sometimes this sort of formula provides the predictable structure that allows them to move through enough print to become proficient. I'll be eager to find out the responses of actual kids. I think I'll give it to one this afternoon. I'll update when I get a response.

The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross

Rich suburban housewife, local lieutenant policeman who has a tragic past, a husband killed in a terrorist act--or is he? Sounds like love to me.

One of the things I do is read reviews on one of the big commercial book seller's sites. This got excellent reviews. I don't think I am going to be in agreement with them this time. Maybe because I was listening to an audio-version of the book. I just didn't find it all that engaging. It got to be a bit too much fantasy--rich folks, fancy boats, Caribbean. All just a little too James Bondian for me.

Cesar's Way : The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

One of the few tv shows I make a point of viewing is "The Dog Whisperer" (Fridays on National Geographic Channel). We've been dog folks for quite a while. I really appreciate his outlook on working with dogs (that means I agree). Barnes & Noble is running a book discussion group about the book after this in October. So--I'm sort of lurking in the discussion and reading the first book.

We have miniature Australian Shepherds at home. I've been using some of Cesar's techniques to get them to stop harrassing the mail carrier.

On a side light. My children are making me watch the South Park episode in which Cesar comes to help a single mom learn to discipline her child. Very funny--but sad at the end.

Bekka Cooper: terrier by Tamora Pierce

Set in a fantasy world, country Tortall this is a first book in a new series. Pierce is a proficient writer who is a good story teller. In this book a young woman trains to be a "dog" (policeman). You learn the social structure of the town and solve 2 criminal cases. There is some magic included in the story--but not a lot. This series gradually links to Pierce's "Circle of Magic" series. She is creating an entire world that young adult readers can explore and learn about the relationships between people and friends.

God Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert

This is the "paper" reading I'm doing this week. I've read the other Dune books and somehow missed this one. It's not new--1981 . You really would need to have read the others. Dune has a fanatic following. Many consider it philosophy instead of just fiction. I am interested in the philosophy part, but sometimes think either Herbert was much smarter than me, or he is a bubble-off-plumb. I really get confused when Lord Leto is talking with the Bene Gesserit witches/reverend mothers. Maybe I need a Sparks Notes for the "code" on this one. I keep thinking I'll give up on this book. I have 3 historical fiction books in the wings. But for some reason I keep picking this one up instead. I guess that says something for it.

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie, by Holly Black

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black

9/23 I'm on CD #3. This book was selected as a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and the YALSA Tenns' Top Ten Books. It has been translated into 9 lnaguages. It's a pretty good story, but you need some background knowledge of the history and myth of Faerie to read understand all that's going on. Holly Black is one of the co-authors of the Spiderwick Chronicles--a runaway best seller among younger students. So far Valerie Russell, a senior in high school, has run away from home because she finds her mother and her (Valerie's) boyfriend making-out in the living room when they think she has gone on into New York for a hockey match (she and her boyfriend were to attend together). So--we have teen angst and fantasy. It's interesting if only for what makes kids interested.

Vanishing Act, by John Feinstein

I'm very glad that Feinstein has started writing YA fiction. (See excerpt from the NPR Biography below)

Vanishing Act is about women's tennis. Set at the US Open the book not only shows the "inside" of tennis but also deals with the issues of sport "agents" and the PR tricks they play. You don't need to be a sports fan to enjoy these books (his first was about basketball) however a little knowledge will enrich your pleasure. I think I liked this one better because I know much more about tennis than basketball.

Feinstein is the sports commentator for NPR. He has also contributed to The Washington Post and Sporting News Radio since 1992, America Online since 2000 and Golf Digest and Gold World since 2003. Feinstein began his career in 1977, writing about politics and sports for The Washington Post. After an 11-year stint, he left the Post and became a special contributor to Sports Illustrated from 1988-90, and National Sports Daily from 1990-91. He returned to the Post as a contributor the following year. Feinstein first gained national attention when his book, A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers, topped The New York Times best-seller list for 16 consecutive weeks, from January - August 1987. (National Public Radio)

New York Stories, Edith Wharton

I've always like Edith Wharton. I have read most of her novels. While I was in the New York Public Library I picked up this collection of short stories. I've read some, but will save most of it for break. Wharton is a wonderful story teller. Now that I've spent a week in New York City proper, walking around and visiting landmarks, I can visualize her settings much better. Her look at Victorian "society" in New York with its hypocrisies and high stakes is complex and enlightening.

Ursula Blanchard Mysteries, Fiona Buckley

Great historical fiction about the Elizabethan period. Ursula is a "Lady of the Presence Chamber" in Queen Elizabeth the 1st's court. She ends up being a sort of spy. I've now read the first 3 of these books. They are all worthy of recommending to students. "Queens Ransom," my latest read,takes you into France during the Hueguenot and Catholic conflicts 1562. Buckley is a good historian and documents her sources. Good modeling for students.

Swantown: The Secret Journal of Susanna Shakespeare, by Micahel J. Ortiz

This gives a rich sense of everyday life in Elizabethean England. The plot is really quite gripping. Susanna want to be a "player" and "writer" like her father, the famous William Shakespeare. But, on the way her uncle gets in trouble with the "censor" and Suzanna needs to help save him.I'm not so certain that the historical facts about William's relationship with his family are accurate. But, it is motivating me to go back and confirm what I thought I knew about Shakespeare's relationship with his wife and children.Good read!

Lightening, Dean Koontz

This is a Dean Koontz novel. I started listening to it on Sunday 9/16. It really grabbed me. So--in order to keep listening I had to start sorting through my mom's boxes of photos to divide them up. (I've had these since she passed away 5 years ago). The main character in this book has a "guardian" who begins work the day she was born--preventing an inibreated doctor from delivering her. The story continue through her life in foster care and into adulthood. I don't want to spoil the book.

This genre is a realy popular one among adults as well as young adults. For years I avoided Koontz thinking it was another "Stephen King" kind of predictable horror. Koontz is much more sophisticated. I think the writing is of slightly better quality. He make the main characters interesting and probably more complex than most popular thrillers. I can see using this to let my 8-12 graders enjoy something with "mass popularity." It also reinforces the value of fiction in exploring the world and other people's lives.

Set in California it will also appeal to our "western" oriented students. For so many years it seemed as if writers only lived on the east coast (okay--big generalization--I know Steinbeck, Fisher, etc.).It makes me a little nervous saying I like this with as many English majors as we have in the class. Where do you all stand on Koontz?Finished. I give this a moderate review. Good for doing housework and gardening, but not something that I'm going to necessarily recommend.

Dark of the Moon, John Sanford

I read every Sanford book as it comes out. Having grown up 3 hours south of Minneapolis this is regional fiction for me. These are adult books--I would let HS students know that I read them, but probably not use them in class or recommend them. I read this sort of popular fiction to relieve stress. As my stress level rises the quality of my reading declines. The way I'm feeling this week (still with vertigo and conference and newsletter deadlines looming) I'm probably going to have to try some romance (just kidding!!). I'm hoping the libarary with call me with my hold for the next Stephanie Myers book. That would be a good read for me right now.

By the Light of the Moon, Dean Koontz

I'm amazed by the different characters Koontz is able to dream up and flesh out. In this book a mad scientist type injects our 3 heroes (including an autistic man) with nanobots that give each extraordinary powers. One of the heroes is a radio talk show host who interviews lots of "crazies." Good read (by the way, the main character is an artist).

Killer Weekend, Ridley Pearson

I got to seen Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson speak at NCTE (my New York trip). They were great. I found their discussion of the writing process amazing. Anyway--this is Pearson's first mystery set in Idaho. He does have a vacation home in Sun Valley. He usually sets his novels in Seattle, but this is a nice alternative. I hope he writes a second book. He is a meticulous researcher. Barry told a very funny annecdote about the differences in their writing style, particularly their planning. Barry sort of doesn't plan, in fact he admits that there often isn't a theme to be found. Meanwhile he claims Pearson works from a spreadsheet over his desk which is taller that Pearson (bigger than 6 feet). In each row, column, and cell he tracks what every character in his book does each hour of the novel. He does this even when the character is not in the plot at the moment.

Chill of Fear, Kay Hooper

Author: Lee Dubert
Posted Date: December 4, 2007 9:54 AMLast Modified Date: December 8, 2007 9:38 PMStatus: Published
I listened to this while traveling. My new smart phone lets me down load audio books from the public library site. Cool!!! Hooper is sort of a Iris Johansen "knock off." I don't know if this is part of a series. The main character is part of an FBI unit that uses detectives with extrasensory abilities to research crimes. I'll listen to another when I can't find something better, but Johansen does it better!

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, Marta Acosta

I'm a vampire reader from way back. I bought Interview with the Vampire in it's first edition and have read all of Anne Rice except for her most recent book. I have looked at Happy Hour several times and finally purchased it. I'm going out this afternoon to purchase the next. It isn't great literature (hmmm--I hate to condemn a book like that, but I think others would agree with me), but it is lots of fun and exactly what I need at this point in the semester. It reminds me of Janet Evanovich but with a Latina heroine and set in California instead of Jersey.

Is it readable by teens--yes. There is "sex" but nothing particularly graphic. Some drinking but no drugs. Two elements that I like--Milagro (the main character) is a graduate of a "fancy university" and has lots of strong female friends. They also have some flaws so unrealistic expectations aren't raised. An aspect that is a little more perplexing is the portrayal of a "goth" teen who ends up the willing victim of a "bad" vampire and ends up running away to Las Vegas and training to become a card dealer.

Overall--It was just what I needed Saturday after a really long, hard, stressful week. Look out book store, here I come for the next title.

Disturbing the Dead, Sandra Parshall

This is Parshall's second book. The main character is a veterinarian (female). There is a bit of a jump in the story line from the first book to the second that I wish was a bit smoother. However, I enjoyed both books. It does give you a picture of the beltway and Virginia, especially the Appalachian mountain areas.

Dexter in the Dark, by Jeff Lindsay

Confession: I'm hooked on the Showtime series Dexter. I was also a fan of Six Feet Under. I don't think I'm macabre. Exploring the point of view of someone who is much, much! different from me is intriguing.

For Christmas my family gave me this book. I didn't know that Dexter was based on a series of existing novels. So, now in a ridiculous methodology I'm about to finish the 3rd book in the series and then return to the first. So far I'm impressed and still reading. The book would be great for any young or beginning writer to explore for the development of voice. There hasn't been graphic violence so far. Even the descriptions of murder scenes are not particularly troublesome.

I'll keep you posted as I read the remainder of the books.

Intensity by Dean Koontz

This week (1/6/08) I've listened to Intensity by Dean Koontz. (I listen to lots of audiobooks on my smart phone, downloaded for free from the public library.) This isn't one of my favorite Koontz novels. I think we was trying to make us feel the sense of intensity that his villain craved. I felt more like it was too much action and not enough plot. Earlier in December I listened to False Memory. This had a great deal more plot and just as much action.

Would I use these books in the secondary classroom? I would like them to be available for students and would recommend them, but I don't think I would use any of them for a whole class or even small group reading. They are good reads and Koontz certainly is an entertaining writer--but I'd prefer to spend class time/my energies on something with greater social value. As an alternative--Laurie R. King's books have plot, strong writing, excitement and students would learn a lot about different religions and historical periods.

I would recommend these books to students who enjoy thrillers and mysteries. They will expand their vocabularies and also learn a lot about Southern California. I will say I would consider some of his Brother Odd, or Seize the Night (Christopher Snow series) for their science content.

I have quite a bit of reading to do from Koontz's collection. I just read his biography on NoveList and am going to follow up on his YA books. He has won an amazing number of awards and managed to be self-supporting as a novelist after just 4 years of full-time writing. FYI--he began life as an English Teacher! I also just checked out his website. One of the better ones I've visited. Take a look at www.deankoontz.com .