Happy Holidays

My holiday wishes curtesty of Wordle.

Something to read for those after the whole Twilight series

Night Runner by Max Turner

This is for those of you who now need your next great read after the Twilight series. I picked up this book on the recommendation of my old boss and mentor Diane, and she is usually right on the mark, and she's done it again. This was an action-packed trill ride of the vampire kind. The action sequences reminded me of The extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp and I just couldn't put it down. It had elements of suspense, humor, action, adventure and romance all within its 261 pages.

From the back cover -

For Zack Thomson, living in the Nicholls Ward wasn't so bad. After his parents died, he developed strange and severe allergies, and the mental institution was the only place where he could be properly look after. As strange as it seems, it was home.

He could watch as much television as he wanted; his best friend Charlie, visited him often enough; and Nurse Ohelia -- the pretties no-nonsense nurse ever -- sometimes took him bowling. Of course, that didn't mean he had it easy. His allergies restricted his diet to strawberry smoothies, and being the only kid at the hospital did get lonely. But it never once crossed Zach's mind to leave... until the night a stranger crashed through the front doors and told him to run.

Now he's on a race for answers -- about his past, his parents and his strange sickness -- even as every step takes him closer to the darkest of truths.

This had a crazy amount to twists to it, and I was kept guessing right to the last chapter.

Congratulations to high school science teacher/author Max Turner of Ottawa for what is sure to be a hit with the kids at Lakie. We need more authors like you, who know how to keep them reading past that first page, first chapter, first hundred pages. Way to hook em!

Read on

Would you?

Would you by Marthe Jocelyn

Would you rather know what's going to happen or not know?

A summer night. A Saturday. For Claire, this summer feels fantastic, because she'll be zooming off to colledge in the fall. For her younger sister, Natalie, it's an okay time with her friends: summer jobs, then hanging out. Fun, mostly, but nothing special. A summer night. An accident. Life changes in a heartbeat.

Would you? Is a game that's played by Natalie and her friends. It goes something like this - "Would you rather have your father sing at the supermarket or your mother fart in the principal's office? / Would you rather lose all your hair or all your teeth? " This game is usually just a way to gross each other out, but the questions of the game take on new meaning after Claire's sister is involved in a life changing accident.

A book that explores what would you do? How well do you know yourself, and how would you answer the hard questions when faced with them. A story about sisters, friends, family and strength. I found this book didn't sugar-coat what a family goes through in an extreme and difficult situation, and that it left room for discussion and introspection. Overall I thought it was well done and reminded me of another great read called The Dive From Clausen's Pier.

Read on

Adrenalin Ride by Pam Withers

It's summer vacation for best friends Peter and Jake, and when they're invited to help develop a mountain bike trail west of the Canadian Rockies, they can' believe their luck. But as they start working hard in an isolated park, the boys sense that something's not right. Join the boys as they plunge into the mountain-biking descent of their lives. (from back cover).

"Adrenalin ride takes me back to my first adventures riding bikes on trails. It captures the energy and adrenalin generated when knobby tires are mixed with generous helpings of trees, rocks and dirt. Add intrigue, danger and suspense to the brew and you have an unbeatable read" Cam McRae, editor, North Shore Mountain Biking e-magazine.

I started this one this morning and finished it this afternoon.So obviously I liked it. I did find that it kind of got off to a slow start, but I felt the action picking up once they were out on the trails. Unfortunately I felt there wasn't enough difference between the characters Jake and Peter. I did however like the plot turns and felt it could be a good read for those into mountain biking. I liked how the guys worked/slaved all day building trails but still had energy and drive to rip-it-up or build jumps after a long day. Reminds me of guys I know, who with mountain biking or snowboarding after the lifts have closed for the day still are out there building jumps and climbing up to take hits off it. Sick! So this one is for those guys -way to go!