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.

Article 5

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Throughout middle school and high school students learn about various forms and styles of governments, for those of us living in a democracy we can hardly imagine a life without a Bill of Rights that ensures all kinds of basic rights and freedoms. So to imagine a country that has gone from a democracy to dictatorship / tyranny, that should scare the pants off of you. Imagine the Bill of Rights being replaced by Moral Statutes, or that the police have been replaced by soldiers and these soldiers have absolute power to make decisions about your future on the spot. Imagine a set of rules that demand complete compliance - there will be no argument, no debate, no trial for disobeying. This is the world that Ember finds herself in, and when her mother is arrested for violating Article 5 (Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife ). Ember's life changes abruptly as she is taken away to a rehabilitation centre. Ember's focus becomes one of escape and survival in order to rescue her mother, but that can't be done from within the prison she beening held at. Can she rely on Chase a boy from her past, who is now part of the governments machine of law and order?

Dystopian future books are still all the rage, and here is another one to add to the list. While I had high hopes for this one, it fell a bit short for me. It's an interesting idea and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Divergent. Give it a try and tell me what you think.

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.

Welcome Back

Nothing says Welcome Back quite like a catchy song, that will have you singing along and thinking you can 'read it maybe.'


Let's have a great year! Let's read loads of books, let's listen to stories, let's write and tell stories, let's have some fun.

Read On.

Crazy Project / Awesome Result

I love picture books. I love all they can say with so few words. I love the simplicity, the artwork, the humour. So this morning when I came across this project I just felt I needed to share it. Now this has me thinking... do you think we could do a project like this with titles from our library?
Maybe even more than picture books, I enjoy pop-up books, I've tried making simple ones, but get a load outta this guy. He's a true paper engineer. I know I'd love to hold that advent calendar in my hands, peek in every window, every door and be mystified at how it was done.

Free Audio Books

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the tribe.

It's one of my favourites.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Written in 1903, this classic brought Jack London to the world’s attention. It is the story of Buck, part St. Bernard and part Scotch shepherd dog, who shows the strengths of both breeds when he is stolen and sold off as a sled dog in the Yukon during the gold rush. A heartfelt story that appeals to both children and adults.


To download this weeks titles click on the link.

These are the last of the free summer audiobooks. I hope you tried out a couple.

Back to School

Today I start back to work. I know that I left the place in a bit of a mess, so in a crazy way, I'm excited to go back and get things all prepped and ready for my readers. Another great thing that I'll be doing is working on buying some new titles to be added to the collection. Yeah! shopping!! Love this Adele remake. You can have it all! Find it in a the pages in a book.

Fabulous project, worthy cause

SketchTravel from Curio on Vimeo.

This animated short film was created as part of a sketchtravel project which is an international charity art project where one red sketch book was passed around between 71 artists around the globe for 4 1/2 years.
The original sketch book was sold for $ 96,200 US and its entire proceeds will go towards building libraries in third world countries in partnership with a child literacy non-profit Room to Read.

Just wanted to share something that makes me feel good. If your interested in Room to Read please check them out here.

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.