A King's Ransom

A King's Ransom : 39 Clues, Cahills vs. Vespers by Jude Watson

It's here, and I've made more than one readers' day. For those of you on the holds list, don't worry it's a fast read and will be in your hands before long.

Summary:
Amy and Dan are in a race for their lives... and the enemy may be even closer than they think. When seven members of their family were kidnapped by a sinister organization called the Vespers, thirteen-year-old Dan and his older sister Amy, vowed that they stop at nothing to bring the hostages home.  But then the ransom comes in and the Vespers demand the impossible. Amy and Dan have just days to track down and steal an anicent map. The only catch? No one has seen the map in over half a century.
Now Amy and Dan are on a desperate search that will lead them to the Nazis, spies, a mad king and some of histories dirtiest secrets . It's the race of their lives ... and one misstep will mean certain death for the hostages.

Book trailer for the series.

The Flying Canoe

The Flying Canoe : a Christmas Story by Eric A. Kimmel

Each year I try to add at least one Christmas story to our collection and this year this was my pick. Maybe it's because my Mom was a French Canadian. Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy this years' pick.
Here's the summary:
One frosty Christmas Eve in the Canadian wilderness, six homesick fur traders are visited by a mysterious stranger. The man claims he can send them home to far away Montreal that very night, but on one condition:  they must not utter a word until they reach their homes. Agreeing to the terms, the fur traders climb into an enchanted canoe and paddle through the sky. But when hot-headed Armand cannot keep silent, it will take a daring move to outwit the stranger.

Blindsided

Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings

There were definately parts of this book I really enjoyed and then there were parts that I felt weren't so believable, a little over-dramatic, or maybe too convenient. I guess I'll rate it a 3 outta 5.

Here's the summary:
Natalie is a typical fourteen-year-old girl: a great student, lots of friends, a loving family. Her life seems perfect. But when a routine visit to the eye doctor reveals that she will soon go blind, she is devastated. As if this wasn't shocking enough, she is then forced to leave everything behind and go to a school for the blind to learn the skills she will need to survive. While she does what she's told, inwardly she desperately hopes for a miracle that will save her sight. But ultimately, Natalie must decide how to go on when her future isn't what she expects.

Titanic Sinks!

Titanic sinks! by Barry Denenberg

I think this has to be my new favourite Titanic book. to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic this book makes you feel as though you were living during that time period and you'll be in the same kind of disbelief that people around the world were that fateful  night 100 years ago. Denenberg has created a unique way to tells his story, he has created a fictional magazine that then relays all the people and events leading up to April 14, 1912.

Summary from the book jacket:
Filled with photographs, details and firsthand accounts, Tintanic Sinks! is a meticulously researched account that uses fact and fiction to tell the dramatic tale of the building, launching and sinking of the legendary ship. It explores the people behind the Titanic's creation, imagines what it might have been like to be a passengers on the doomed crossing, and shares how some survivors coped in the aftermath. This is the ultimat "you are there" experience - welcome aboard!

TinTin

Tin Tin and the Secret of the Unicorn by Herge

My family devoured the adventures of Tin Tin. Originally published in 1943 they have kept young people entertained since then. And now they are being recreated for another audience by none other than Stephen Spielberg. Yes, they are coming to a big screen near you - December 23.

Here's a look at the movie poster and a trailer.

I hope you'll go looking for these classic graphic novels, you will travel the world on countless adventures with a young man called Tin Tin and his little white dog Snowy.

A Season of Gifts

A Season of Gift by Richard Peck

Recently I had a display of holiday and winter inspired books in the library. I am able to book talk many of them, and believe they set the tone for the upcoming holiday and get us ready for winter. But I hadn't read this gem yet, so I brought it home with me last night and finished it in one reading.
In August of 1958 the Barnhart family has moved in next door to the mysterious, unflappable Mrs. Dowdell. What could be worse? The fact that your the new kids in town or the fact that your the new kids in town and the preacher's kids? Along the way to making friends and adjusting to small town life there's ghosts, and pranks, Elvis, stealing Christmas trees and much more.

Kinetic Contraptions

Kinetic Contraptions : build a hovercaft, airboat, and more with a hobby motor by Curt Gabrielson

This book is chock full of cool projects, right away we wanted to build a hovercraft and the three wheeler car. I sent my husband off to find us a hobby motor (found one at Best Buy for $3.50), rounded up a paint stick, some rubberbands, a bulldog clip, the gluegun, and some connection wire and I think we're ready to create.
Things we both liked about the book:
 - simple materials that can be found around the house, everything from paperclips, paint sticks, and clothes pins to paperplates, empty pop bottles and corks.
- Black and white photos explaining the steps to take in contructing the contraption.
- The science behine what makes it work.
- The basics of how electricity works (my husband is an electrician and he thought some of his first year apprentices should have a look at this.)
- The projects are cool and once you've built one, you could easily disassemble it and build a different one.

Once we've got it up and running I will post some photos.
Read On

Candy Construction

Candy Construction: How to build edible race cars, castles, and other cool stuff out of store-bought candy by Sharon Bowers

With shows like Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, Cupcake Wars and Kid in a Candy Store inspiring our future bakers is it any wonder that I could not resist picking up this book for our library.

In Candy Construction author Sharon Bowers reveals how inexpensive and readily available store-bought candy offers an irresistable treasure trove of crafting material. Armed with a bedazzling variety of sugary shapes, there is no limit to what kids can build. Every project is accompanied by full-colour photos and easy to follow, step-by-step building instructions.

I can't wait to sample some of your creations.
Read On

The Magic of Paper Sculpture

The Magic of Paper Sculpture by David Swinton

With Christmas just around the corner, I seem to start getting crafty, this year I'm into  making paper ornaments, so I took a little trip to the public library for some inspiration and look what i found :-D
This is so cool I can hardly wait to start trying my hand at paper sculpture. Who know maybe you'll be seeing some of my creations or this title added to our collection soon.

Plain Kate

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

The winner of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for 2011. Congratulations Erin Bow on such a wonderfully written, heartfelt tale. It's one of those books which will be hard to describe but when you put it into someones hands , you'll say "you have to read this."

Summary from the publisher:
Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden charms are so fine that some even call her "witch-blade" - a dangerous nickname in a town where witches are hunted and burned in the square.
For Kate and her village have fallen on hard times. Kate's father has died, leaving her alone  in the world. And a mysterious fog now covers the countryside, ruining crops and spreading fear of hunger and sickness. The townspeople are looking for someone to blame, and their eyes have fallen on Kate.
Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he'll give Kate the means to escape the town that seems set to burn her, and what's more, he'll grant her hearts wish. It's a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes that she can't live shadowless forever - and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed.
Thank you Keara C. for putting it in my hands and saying "you have to read this."
Book Trailer.

January

January by Gabrielle Lord

Last week I was asking students for something good to read, something  with  a strong male protagonist. I had lots of suggestions, many I had already read, some were just too big. I ended up taking January -book one of the Conspiracy 365 series home with me and well -- WOW! I certainly got what I asked for. It was a crazy wild ride from beginning to end, and then ending well what can I say they left the poor guy inside an oil storage tank with it slowly being refilled with the heavy smelly slick stuff. If you're not grasping for book 2 February , you'd better check to see if you have a pulse.
If you like Alex Rider or the 39 clues series then this might be a good pick for you.
Here's the summary from the back cover.
On New Year's Eve Cal is chased down the street by a staggering sick man with a deadly warning...
They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days!
Huried into a life on the urn , wtih a price on his head, the 15-year-old fugitive is isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehome uncover the truth about his father's mysterious death and a history-changing secret. Who can he trust, when the whole world seems to want him dead?
The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.


Book trailer.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
by Catherynne Valente

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman  in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talismen the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn't ... then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fariyland. September is already making new friends, including a book loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.
For all readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience that is unforgettable and beautiful.

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

The Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a little less predictable -- until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who oppose the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also drawn mysteriously to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to peice together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

Book trailer.