Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This is a story that will satisfy both historical fiction fans and sci-fi fans. Our strong female protagonist Jesse lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton. The children of Clifton are getting sick. Seriously sick. Jesse is the one chosen to leave the village (and everything she knows) to travel to a strange new place in order to find medicine that could save her friends and family. Can she do it before she runs out of time.

This book will provide great conversation, the idea of reality TV might have sprung up from this book. I love the idea of which skills transfer through generations of time. Jesse's courage and questioning mind are the heroes of the story. It was a great quick read for the weekend.

Storm Runners

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

The breakneck  pace of Storm Runners by Roland Smith, grabs you from the first page and just keeps on going, right to page 143. The story never really let up- in fact I'll be heading to the shelves this morning to check out book two in the series. Chase Masters and his father are storm runners, racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in the classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined.
Here's an interview with author Roland Smith.

Summer Reading

The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick

I'm smitten with Brian Selznick's work, both as an author and an illustrator. Since my first introduction to his illustrative style in Ann M. Martin's, The Doll People right through to his most current work Wonderstruck, I have been enchanted with how he visually tells a story, as well as, when he writes  a story. Blending these two talents together in more than just a picture book fashion (32 pages) has been such a hit with readers at Lakie. Why I think it is a hit? I believe that some of us readers are better at interpreting visual clues and then making the inference with the verbal clues in the story. In other words the pictures help us understand the story. And Selznick is a master - it's a joy to uncover the clues in his pictures.
I guess it's no wonder that I searched out more of his titles this summer.
In The Houdini Box we are introduced to Victor a young boy who idolizes Harry Houdini. He tries to learn countless magic tricks to no avail - often with humourous bruising results. Then a chance meeting with the magician leads Victor on an unexpected journey.
I loved learning more about the magician Harry Houdini, I love the thought of a magic box that could transform Victor into the magician he dreamed of being. The black & white cross-hatched illustrations supported the story beautifully. And I appreciated the non-fiction content including a biography and magic trick at the end of the book.

I was delightfully surprized to find out that this book has been the inspiration of a children's play. Here's a preview of it.

Summer Reading

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

Sometimes when I'm choosing a book, I read the first sentence and if it grabs my attention, I'll check it out. Here's the first sentence -- "My name is P.K. Pinkerton and before this day is over I will be dead."  So that in combination with cover was enough to peak my interest. (And I seem to be on a western kick these days.) This book might be a bit of a gamble for some, but with short chapters, loads of action, fascinating characters - including our main character P.K. (who if you can imagine Sheldon from Big Bang Therory were twelve years old and living in the old west, a hilarious combination.) and guns being drawn just about every other chapter -- well then this should be your next book. It was loads of fun.

Here's the summary from the book jacket:
The year is 1862 and twelve-year-old P.K. Pinkerton is on the run from Whittlin Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados. P.K. is determined to hold on to his ma's last priceless possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But this is the Wild West, and there's hardly a safe place to hide in Virginia City, an untamed mining town full of gamblers, hurdy girls and gunmen - all of them on the make! Relying on disguises will only keep P.K. hidden for so long as he works to outwit the outlaws who are quickly closing in...
At once thrilling, funny, and moving, this mystery adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Brotherband Chronicles

Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan --
Book 1 The Outcasts, Book 2 The Invaders

They are outcasts, Hal, Seig and the others - they are the boys the others want no part of.  Skandians, as any reader of the Ranger's Apprentice could tell you, are known for their size and strength.
Not these boys. Yet that doesn't mean they don't have skills. And courage - which they will need every once of to do battle at sea against the other bands - The Wolves and the Sharks in the ultimate race. The icy waters make for a treacherous playing field... especially when not everyone thinks of it as playing.

Here's an interview with John Flanagan.

Chris Raschka

Chris Raschka -- illustrator, poet, storyteller.
We have several of his books here in the library. A couple of them are my favourites to loan out to teachers during April because he delivers such good examples of various forms of poetry ( A Kick In the Head and A Foot in the Mouth), but I think concrete poetry must be one of his favourites. And I love his description of it -"yoga of words."

Check out Chris at work.

Dark Eden

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

I've had the good fortune of receiving the advanced reading edition of this one and having been consuming it for a couple of days and I have to admit to being caught right up in the scary side of phobias. And of course Patrick Carman is still on the cutting edge of bringing his books to life this time with an interactive apps for your iphone / android phone / ipad / ipod / techno gadget. It will make it way to our library soon, get your name on the hold list.
Summary.
Fufteeb-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares - with the help of the group facilitator, Ransford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains ... What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?
  Heres the book trailer and some info from Patrick Carman

Floors

Floors by Patrick Carman



Charlie had his chocolate factory. Stanley Yelnats had his holes. Leo has the wacky, amazing Whippet Hotel.
The Whippet Hotel is a strange place full of strange mysterious people. Each floor has its own quirks and secrets. Leo should know most of them - he is the maintenance man's son afterall. But a whole lot more mystery gets thrown his way when a series of cryptic boxes are left for him ... boxes that lead to hidden floors, strange puzzles, unexpected alliances. Leo had better be quick on his feet, because the fate of the building he loves is at stake... and so is Leo's own future.

Here's  the trailer

This Dark Endeavour

This Dark Endeavour : the apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

Wow! just finished and yes WOW. From the opening chapter, I was hooked, dark, mysterious, historical, brothers, jealousy, love, action/adventure, magic, villans. Hooked yet? If not -here's the summary from the book jacket.

The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions.
Sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one.
The Dark Library contains anceint tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor know he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life.
The elixir needs only three ingredients. But impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten the quest at every turn. Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science and love - and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

The Emerald Atlas

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

Kate, Michael and Emma have suffered through ten years odious orphanage "care" ; now they have slipped into the care of the eccentric, distrubingly mysterious Dr. Pym. While exploring their new home, the children discover a magical green book. With that discovery, a decade of tedium dissolves into cascades of dangerous time travel adventures and struggles with a beautiful witch and deciededly less attractive zombielike Schreechers.

This is next on my to read stack. Can't wait, have students telling me about it.
In the mean time here's an interview with John Stephens and the book trailer.

Troubletwisters

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams


From the inside cover:
Are you a troubletwister?
Jaide and Jack Shield's lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they're around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house... from the inside.
Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X - a relative they've never, ever met. At Grandma X's house, things are even stranger. Weather vanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk.
Jaide and Jack Shield don't know the reason behind all this strangeness. They don't know that they're troubletwisters, and that they must defend the world against a dark, evil force. The time has come for them to discover the truth - and the powers that come with the truth.
Are they ready?


I have both an author interview and a book trailer for you.

Shadow Wave

Shadow Wave by Robert Muchamore - Cherub Book 12
From day one, I have loved this action-packed, adrenalin junky, rollercoaster ride of a series. And the disclaimer on the back cover - not suitable for younger readers, well for some of us the more we're told not to do something, read something the more we must try it out (evil grin :-}. Cherub agents are highly trained professionals with one essential advantage: adults never suspect that kids are spying on them.
From the back cover --
After a tsunami causes massive devastation to a tropical island, its governor sends in the bulldozers to knock down villagers, replacing them with luxury hotels. Guarding the governor's family isn't James Adam's idea of the perfect mission - and then retired agent Kyle Blueman comes up with an unofficial and highly dangerous plan of his own. James must choose between loyalty to CHERUB, and loyalty to his oldest friend.


Here's author Robert Muchamore speaking about book 12 Shadow Wave.

The Big Time

The Big Time by Tim Green


Things couldn't be going betterfor Troy White. The Atlanta Falcons' football genius is at the top of his game, helping the team get to the playoffs. Agents and lawyers are knocking on his door with big-money offers for the upcoming season, And his own football team has just won the Gerogia State Championship! Troy's celebrating with his friends at Linebacker Seth Halloway's mansion when another lawyer comes knocking - and he says, "I think I'm your father."
In that instant, Troy's life is changed.


This is the sequel to Football Champ.
Here's Tim Green speaking about writing and the Football Genius books.