"The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

A young boy in an unhappy home discovers he has “powers.” A series of adventures brings him to a school with others like him, where he befriends an awkward boy and a smart, talented girl. Together, they battle dark forces. No, I'm not talking about “Harry Potter.” While the plotlines are strikingly similar, this book didn't come off as derivative as it sounds. It was a great read with a contemporary feel and I can easily see the popularity. Much like J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan grounds the mystical elements in very real pre-teens. Humor weaves throughout as Percy, our lead character, maintains his “um, yeah, right” attitude amidst growing improbabilities. The Greek myths are wonderfully integrated, enough to make the most school-resistant kid run flying to Wikipedia to learn more about the Gods. Action is plentiful from chapter to chapter, making the book a page-turner, but it has purpose and direction and character development isn't left behind as the tale progresses. I did find some of it predictable, but that's because I might (?) have a stronger understanding of the context than some of the younger readers (thank you, Hercules & Xena TV shows), but it was enjoyable. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Yeah, I'm behind the eight-ball. I read slowly and didn't want to take books from this popular series out of the hands of students. My only problem now is how long it's going to take me to get to Riordan's hot new series, “The Kane Chronicles.”

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Finally! An absolutely wonderful book, followed by an equally delightful film. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is a well-crafted, page-turning novel. Set in the critical year of 1963 this book tells the story of maids in the deep south and a young white woman who has a lot of growing up to do. Told in three perspectives, chapters flow between the first-person narratives of Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter as they engage in a highly dangerous activity of the time – truth-telling. I grew up in the south in the 60s. While we didn't have maids, the atmosphere of the book resonated with me, much like “The Secret Life of Bees,” a book with a similar historical theme. Like they did in that book, the characters here leap off the pages as people who are complex, engaging and real. The film is marketed as a comedy, and the book does have humor, but it defies a strict description. It is comedy, and tragedy, and history, but at its root, it is the story of people. The human look at our not-too-distant past is a critical element that made the film work as well. Lest we forget, many adult African Americans in this nation had parents who worked as domestics. The impact of that on their lives is still a powerful element the world-view of many. Of the book, I have no complaints. It meanders at times into the trivia of day-to-day living, but this doesn't detract from the story, it simply colors in the lines, making this tale one that feels like nonfiction rather than fiction. At 450 pages, it was a remarkably fast read that I tore through. The film, to the degree possible, stays faithful to the book although many elements are necessarily tightened and abbreviated. There are changes, most of which heighten dramatic tension or clarify moments. My only complaint with the film was the billing – Emma Stone, playing Skeeter, gets top billing. I strongly feel that the top billing should have been Viola Davis, who plays Aibileen. Both the book and the film begin and end with Aibileen's story. While all three women go through a psychological journey of sorts during the book, it is Aibileen, IMHO, who is the “most” transformed. Her voice is the most poignant of the tale and Viola Davis portrayed her with the true dignity and quiet majesty of the character – is it Hollywood racism that prevents her from getting the credit she should? Come award time, we will see. In the meantime, read the book, see the movie and gain a better understanding.