Graphic novel blitz

The Sign of the Black Rock by Scott Chantler

This is the sequel to Tower of Treasure which I had a lot of fun reading. So I quickly reaquainted myself with the characters and joined the story and the mystery surrounding Dessa and her friends. Well drawn, colourful, and fast-paced. This is one that will be sure to pull you in and get you going in graphic novels.

Summary: Young readers will feel transported by the clever, intricate plotline and superb, sweeping illustrations of this second title in the Three Thieves series. The action resumes as our three goodhearted fugitives stop at a roadside inn during a ferocious thunderstorm. Narrow escapes ensue as Grig, the schemeing shelfish inn keeper, endeavours to capture the trio and secure a reward from the Queen. Tensions mount further as the Queens Dragons arrive at the tavern, hot on the trail of the fugitives and immediately suspicious of the smary Grig. Will Grig get his due? Will the fugitive escape? And why hasn't Grig's gentle wife spoken a word in ten years? You can bet she's got a secret.





Graphic novel blitz

Defiance by Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis

This is book 2 in this series about young French resistance fighters during World War II. Once again I got caught up in both the illustrations and the story of Tessier family and how they are coping during the war but also how each is assisting in the defiance of Nazi rule that has invaded their homeland.

Here is the summary.
When Nazi's invade what can children do to fight them?
World War II has taken its toll on the French countryside. German soldiers patrol the towns, searching for any challenge to their rule. The Tessier siblings Paul, Marie and Sophie, keep their noses clean and their faces blank as the French Military Police tighten their grip on the small country town. But all three are secretly doing their part for the Resistance : the men and women working hard to undermine the Germans and win back France's freedom... even if it costs them their lives.

I also appreciated the historical notes at the end of the book, that gave more information on the efforts of the French resistance during the occupation, as well as information on Charles De Gaul. You can tell this book has been well researched, a bonus to the capitvating story.

Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

I think this might be my favourite book this summer, I don't know, there was just something about it that made me laugh, believe in the characters and cheer with how things turned out. I've got it ordered for our library, so be patient in the mean time here is the summary from the publisher.
Summary:
Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have is the story of a boy who doesn't fit -- in his pants, in his family, in his school or in his life. If Andrew Zansky can only be thin enough, smart enough, or popular enough, he thinks everything in his life will be perfect. His father will come back home. The pretty girl in school will fall in love with him. His Mom will be happy again.
While he is working to achieve this fantasy future, Andrew eats. A lot. He buries his problems in his mom's mini-snacks, analyzing his world while stuffing down his feelings. "When I chew loud enough," he says "I can't hear myself think. It's like a little vacation." Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have follows Andrew's journey to self awareness and self-acceptance (by unexpectedly joining the high school football team.) By the end of the story , Andrew stops living in his head, and starts participating in life. Perhaps most importantly, he comes to understand that feeling different doesn't make him weird or special, it makes him just like everyone else.

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts ; illustrations by Laura Park

I know many of you are dreading coming back to school -- who can blame you, the weather has finally cooperated, there's still a pile of stuff you want to do (or at least I still have stuff I want to do.) Anyways... like it or not you'll be finding your way back to the doors of G.S. Lakie next week, eager to see friends, learn who is in your class (and that is probably about it as far as anticipation goes - so I think many of you will be able to relate to the main character in this book - Rafe. Rafe isn't too keen on school, and his unique way of coping with things is the only thing that holds his interest or excitement. Overall I enjoyed this look at grade sixer Rafe, his family, classmates and teachers. I just hope that none of you attempt his crazy scheme.

Generously sprinkled with cartoon style illustrations keeps readers interest and the pace of the story flowing.
If you're all caught up in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, you might give this one a try.
Check out the website.
http://middleschoolbook.com/

Read On

Ghost Hunt: Chilling tales of the unknown

Ghost Hunt: Chilling Tales of the Unknown by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

If you want to know what goes bump in the night... If you feel a shiver up your spine when you enter a dark room... If you wonder: Is it real? Ghost Hunt has the answers.

An exciting new middle grade collection of spooky paranormal investigations based on REAL ghost hunts from stars of the TV show Ghost Hunters. This volume feature multiple stories dramatized with cliff hangers and red herrings to heighten suspense and character interaction. Throught the investigation readers will learn the ins and outs of ghost hunting, how to spot a hoax, and how to face their fear of the paranormal.

As many of you know I'm a wuss when it comes to scary stuff - so this is one I'll be needing readers and reviewers for. Check out the website for more -- http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/ghosthunt/index.html

Read On.

Greener Grass: the famine years

Greener Grass: the famine years by Caroline Pignat

This was another one of the titles that I read in my training for the 24 hour reading marathon. Luckily for me it was a very interesting, captivating read. For any of you that have a thread of Irish in your family tree this would give you terrific historical insight into how many Irish families ended up immigrating to Canada and the U.S.. Good characterization, and I feel like I have a greater understanding into life and times of the Irish potato famine.

Summary.
Kit Bryne's family is a strong one, but their strength and unity are being severely tested, as life becomes more and more desperate in 19th century rural Ireland. Lord Fraser is the wealthy landowner, from which the Brynes and many other families rent thier lands. When the potatoe blight hits, the farmers can no longer make their payments much less produce food for themselves and the cruel system has no mercy as Lord Fraser wields an iron fist, driving families from their homes and burning their cottages.
Kits dreams are now dashed as her family experiences a series of tragedies and as she undergoes a daunting event that tears her away from her family. With her father dead, she must fight for survival and help her ailing mother and siblings escape Ireland for good.
The story is a glimpse into the tragic events of the great hunger, the famine that devastated Ireland, forcing thousands of improvished families to seek better fortunes outside of their homeland.

This book won the Governor Generals Literary Award in 2009. The sequel is Wild Geese, which I hope to read before too long.
Read On.

Close to Famous

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

If you've ever taken part in one of my book talks you'll know I often describe books as "yummy", well this book was "yummy beyone belief." I think I ate it up just like the cupcakes that Foster makes. Delicous! Mmmm Mmmmm.
Here's some of my favourite quotes from the book.
"You don't know the power of a cupcake until your life depends on it."
"The smartest thing I ever did in sixth grade was give Mrs. Ritter a cupcake. I think it might be why I passed sixth grade."
"When you're going through a tough spell, it's easy to think that's all your life is about. You forget the good things, forget the quiet places. But they're always inside of us and we can pull them up when we need to set ourselves right. I think that's why why pop fished. It just set him right."

Summary:
When you've been chased out of Memphis by a scary Elvis impersonator and endu p in the tiny town of Culpepper, where nothing much seems to happen, it's hard to hold onto a big dream. And Foster has a really big dream: one day she hopes to have her own TV cooking show like her idol, Sonny Kroll. Meanwhile, she'll keep on doing what she does best - baking.
Soon Foster discovers she's not the only one in Culpepper with a dream of fame. Macon desperately wants to make documentary films, Miss Charleena longs to return in triumph to Hollywood, and Foster's mother hopes to be a headliner instead of a backup singer.
Meanwhile, Culpepper seems to provide a safe haven. But Foster and her mother can't hide forever.
Read On.

The girl who could fly

The Girl who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

From the back cover:
Piper McCloud lives with her normal ma an pa on a normal farm in normal Lowland County. But Piper isn't your normal girl. Ever since Piper was a baby, she's been able to hover a few feet off the ground, and if the people of Lowland County knew she could fly, they would have something to say about it. So, it only seems best that Piper be sent away to I.N.S.A.N.E., the top secret school for children with extraordinary abilities like hers. Her new friends have powers like telekinesis, X-ray vision, and the ability to create their own weather. Piper likes her new life at school, but soon, she realizes things aren`t as they seem. Now , the school she was sent to for her own protection might be the most dangerous place she`s ever been.

I started my training for a 24 hour reading challenge that I`m going to do later on this year, so on my first attempt, I gathered up a stack of books and got myself comfortable with a pillow, deck chair, sunglasses, water, coffee, snacks, etc. and started reading. This was the third book of the day - about seven hours into my training. I liked it okay but I think I was comparing it with Savy which I loved. So if you liked Savy by Ingrid Law this might be a good choice for you. Piper and her friends are longing to use their special powers to good use and the longer they spend at that school the rustier they seem to be getting - how can they turn things back around?
REad On.

Shark vs. Train

Hi, I'm back. I've had a glorious summer vacation with most of it being spent out at the cabin in Beaver Mines, and as some of you know, it's pretty rustic out there, no cell phone reception, no computer, no phone for that matter, so I didn't really have a chance to blog about any of the books I read over the summer.
Here goes --
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
I don't usually blog about picture books but I will make an exception for this one, in which shark and train go head to head in an all out competion of every sort imaginable. Who will win? Your guess is as good as mine. Loved it, can't wait to share it with some of you and with my neice and nephew.
Here's the book trailer: