Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Okay, just kidding. I’m not really going to review this book in detail because a) I have no interest in putting spoilers out there and b) there are plenty of folks who will be sharing their opinions. Actually, now that the series is “complete” I just thought it would be interesting to talk about it as a whole. A synopsis seems hardly necessary, but here goes: The series is about a young boy who discovers he has magical powers and (of course) a great enemy. The books have adventure, humor, drama, even sports, and do a delightful job of following young Harry as he “comes of age” and discovers the deeper mysteries of life along with his growing magic powers. Although it is pure fantasy, the strength here is that non-fantasy readers have enjoyed the books as much as the hard-core Fantasy buffs. The characters, the friendships, the school setting and the growing pains are all very real and very identifiable. IMHO, Ms. Rowling succeeded exceptionally as she portrayed the emotional life of Harry during each of his teenage years. One would think she spends a lot of time around teenagers(!) That said, the Harry Potter series isn’t just a fad, but downright phenomena. Three hundred and twenty-five million copies of the books in this series have sold thus far, and a record-shattering 12 million copies were printed for the *first* run of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. The collected series have the highest print runs of any book in American history, and compete with “The Bible” and “Shakespeare’s Collected Works” in terms of world publishing history. And yet, they are not literary masterpieces (yes, I said it, feel free to throw stones…). They are simply good. Very good, and they have something unusual for any book, much less ones aimed at teens – they have a universality about them. In our culture, we tend to equate universality with blandness. An example of this would be to compare a really good ethnic restaurant with a fast food franchise. The fast food places are far more palatable to the masses, but are widely seen as having inferior food as everything is boiled down to a kind of acceptable homogeny. In this case, I think that such assumptions do not apply. The Harry Potter books may not please teachers who worship at the feet of authors like D.H. Lawrence or Somerset Maugham, but to dismiss them is to seriously underestimate their quality, and, I believe, their staying power. Ms. Rowling freely admits her Dickensonian influences in writing these books, and the comparison is apt. Charles Dickens wrote “penny dreadfuls” and was considered the fun but volume/trash writer of his time. Think of him as the 19th century Jacqueline Susann. As far as I can tell, Dickens has fared pretty well a hundred or so years later. I’ve come to believe that some books get the crown of literary merit not only for good prose, but simply for sticking around long enough. And then there is something to be said about literary masterpieces being well-written, but not necessary being, well, enjoyed. Most people recognize the brilliance of “Moby Dick” but few put it on their favorites list. The Harry Potter books, in contrast, are favorites of children, teens, adults and seniors worldwide. They are books that can be reread and treasured for generations to come. It is this factor that will keep them around, and perhaps with time, appreciated for their full value.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

This was the last of the many Gail Giles books I read for the upcoming “Books for the Beast” conference. Sadly, I would have to say it was my least favorite. Ms. Giles has a tendency to put unexpected twists into her stories, meaning that you know something bad is coming, but don’t really know what. Unfortunately, in this overdone novel, I knew exactly what was going to happen. It was a suspense novel that had no suspense. Added to that is one of the most boilerplate plotlines one could come up with. See if any of this sounds familiar: A popular group of kids adopts a nerdy geek with the intention of making him/her popular. There is the jock, the handsome guy, the rich kid with brains, and the popular guy who has a mean streak. Add in parents who are distant, cold and demanding and you have any given teen show on the CW network. Each chapter begins with an “interview” of sorts (the meaning of which becomes clear very quickly). These let the reader know who was involved and what happened after the fact. While these interviews take the air out of any sense of anticipation, I actually liked them more than the story itself. Somehow these voices seemed more “real” to me. This book might appeal to any kid trapped in the social nightmare of school stereotypes, but other than that, I would read one of the other Gail Giles books if you want a good creepy scare.

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

I call this a 50-50 book. On one hand, the psychological underpinnings really work and the style helps drive the story forward in a rather breakneck pace. The book is told through three perspectives: Cass McBride, a popular girl who has been kidnapped; Kyle, her kidnapper; and Ben, the lead detective trying to find her. The story is strongest in the voice of Cass, trying to understand and gain the upper hand in her fate. The title of the book says much. It’s not just what happens to Cass in this event, but what ~has~ happened to her, and those around her, that brings her to this place. Kyle’s story is disjointed and sad, but works well to create dramatic tension with Cass. The negative part of this book comes with the police search and the ending. Ben’s story is necessary to move the plot forward, but seems to only be there as that device. The characters are so flat in his narrations that they become interchangeable. The dialog is so “bad TV cop show” that it is actually laughable. The editing needs work, too. “Party Hardy” is spelled “Hearty” and there are hanging quote marks throughout the book. What really bugged me about the story, however, was the ending. I strongly felt that Ms. Giles betrayed the “truth” of one of her characters to force her rather trademark creepy/twisting end. Given the voice that she had created for some 200 pages, I just didn’t believe where it ended up going. Like I said, this one rated five on a scale of ten for me.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

I have to admit it. I am an absolutely huge David Lubar fanatic. IMHO he is to YA books what Joss Whedon is to television, what Shakespeare is to theatre, what Britney is to bad girls…(LOL). His writing is smart, funny, unexpected, layered, engaging and so much more. This book was no exception. Scott, a clever but underdeveloped young man, suffers through his freshman year with “Job”-like issues…but his “put one foot in front of the other” attitude and sardonic view of the world around him make this book a laugh-out-loud delight … with a few of those spin on a dime moments that will totally make you catch your breath. Added to this, you have a really strong book that is extremely guy focused. How rare is that? David Lubar is a welcome addition to the modern landscape of teen novels. Take time to enjoy the fun.

Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles

Two thumbs up for an eye-catching title. In this succinct, fast-to-read novel, Gail Giles continues her noted style of getting to the point. Reading almost like a short story (I read it in one sitting, unusual for me) this book takes place mostly over one afternoon. Creepy but less dark than some of her works, “Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters” is about Sunny, the seemingly unperfect daughter amidst a family so dysfunctional they make the “Married…With Children” folks look healthy. Sunny’s older sister, the “golden child” has died. Father drinks, mother is a basketcase. But, as in all good mysteries, nothing is quite as it seems. The page-turning quotient here is high and the end is most certainly open to debate. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. A good choice for those who like a lot of mystery in compact form.

A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt

When you have an “out loud” laugh by page three, you know you are in for a treat. When the book is a first novel, you have to be that much more impressed. This book had a good deal of support in the TAB bookclub last year and I’m happy to say that it has been my favorite book this summer (barring Harry Potter, of course). The folks in this book aren’t just real – they remind me so strongly of the students I work with that you have to remember it is fiction. There is not one moment of “dramatic plot device” here. While one of the major plotlines is predictable, it never takes that Lifetime TV twist I expected. Things progress naturally, very much as they would do in real life. It is a funny book, a thoughtful book, a sad book, but does not have any of the darkness in it which is so prevalent in YA novels these days. It was a complete joy to read, and the first page-turner I had picked up in months. Kudos to Ms. Reinhardt for something fresh and delightful. I look forward to her next work.

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Australian authors are all the rage these days. Newcomer Margo Lanagan adds to the pack with her unique short story collection, “Black Juice”. Loosely categorized as fantasy, this collection of rich but oddball tales defies true description, but does, in fact, border on horror. Threads of the supernatural and the dark recesses of human souls run through this dense and richly woven text. The first story, told in the tale similar to Appalachian myth, tells of a family “singing down” a daughter as she drowns in the tar pits. Following this are stories of murderous clowns, devil-like angels, cults, and a dry, mechanical, bleak future. While I recognized the brilliance in the writing, I can’t say that I enjoyed this collection. Some stories felt like drafts of longer works, while others, with their Australian slang, left me confused as to what, exactly, was going on. Ms. Lanagan clearly has skill as a writer. It will be interesting to see if she develops this ability for American audiences in future works.

Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles

This story is about Matt, one of those good kids who blends into the background of his school, and Skye, a troubled “Goth-girl” who pursues Matt. It isn’t so much a love story as a train wreck, but it isn’t hugely depressing. In part, the reason it isn’t a downer is because of the speed of events. This fast-read book has short chapters which whisk by as the almost inevitable impending doom approaches. There is a lot of “normal” here, and some insightful moments. I understood Matt’s observation that his family lived together, but separate, and I laughed out loud when he noted that if it “wasn’t on the computer then the research was not worth doing”. Matt is fairly grounded for a 17 year-old, a sense, perhaps, of the author’s voice coming through. It is that grounded nature, however, that makes the tale somewhat unbelievable. He spirals from decent guy to party animal so fast that it is hard to see where his reasonableness loses out to self-destructed behavior. The reason given is the pull of a girl coming on to him, but I still feel it is a tad far-fetched. A subtle morality book, there are many kids as troubled as Skye out there. The best advice, sadly ignored, is when Matt’s younger sister tells him that he needs to be talking to an adult. If teens reading this book could pick up on that simple idea, a number of their struggles could be better resolved. But that wouldn’t make for good YA fiction, would it? And so we have a short little book with a mature content and a troubling, sudden end. Read it, and share your views.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

With a book by Alex Sanchez, you have to know there will be both gay and Hispanic themes. There are in this book, and they are treated with the utmost respect and delicacy. Frederick is a newly arrived “gringo” to a well-to-do Hispanic neighborhood in L.A. Xio is a fun and outgoing girl in the 8th grade at her local middle school. The two become friends, and I grew to really like both as the narrative smoothly slips from one character to the other through timely chapter breaks. Is Frederick gay? It is something he dreads, like many young people who want to fit in. It is also something he would do anything to avoid. Xio likes him, and she is determined to make this cute young man her first “real” boyfriend. Read the book to discover Frederick and Xio’s delightful personalities and the discoveries they make along the way. Proof positive that reality doesn’t have to be depressing.

Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson

An overly long romance book, this one has mature content and will please many a reader of those “heartache-but I’ll love you forever” kind of novels. It wasn’t to my taste, but then, I’m not a fan of romance. Sickenly unrealistic, Jason & Kyra go to a really good high school in Detroit and live in relative splendor. He’s the super-jock that doesn’t indulge in chemicals and she’s the shy smart girl who surprisingly gets his attention. Girl gets boy, girl loses boy, you know the drill. The only thing that struck me as fairly compelling in this wordy tome were the scenes between the two of them. Their dialog in those sections seemed natural, and their feelings relatable. The book is sorely in need of an editor, bulging at over 300 pages. There is also a switched “narrative voice” (a modern trend) but it is deeply inconsistent. One chapter is Jason’s. The next starts as Kyra, then goes back to Jason. Along the way, there are paragraphs and sentences where the point of view swings wildly to other students and even, on one occasion, a passerby. It’s too much. The constant emphasis on Kyra’s love of R&B music doesn’t seem to have a point other than to make sure we understand she doesn’t listen to Rap. Okay, after the first time, I got it. R&B sets the mood – but five mentions later of the same thing put me in a coma. That’s not the only thing in this book that seems unmotivated. Jason’s father starts out as hardworking, distant and stern. It is later revealed that he is a physically abusive drunk. It doesn’t fit with how he is presented, it doesn’t fit with his successful career or the girlfriend we never meet, it just seems to be a device to push the lovebirds together. It was one of many things I could have done without. This was a first novel by Ms. Davidson. Hopefully her next will be more polished.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

It’s not deep, it’s not 100% realistic, but I really enjoyed this book. Yet another tale of L.A. (I guess all those “heartland America” books are over). Victoria, aka “Egg”, is a child of Hollywood, but she lives in a simple setting. Her divorced parents represent different parts of the business, and of her personality. Her father, a well-respected make-up artist is quiet, sometimes warm, and sometimes temperamental. Her mother, a fading actress looking for a new break is trying to reach out but doesn’t really know how. Victoria will appeal to many a teenage reader. Angry, lost, confused, funny, smart, strong, she discovers much about herself along the way and I really enjoyed her journey. The ends aren’t tied up all neatly, and adults may not love some of the choices Victoria eventually makes, but there is something to be said for a young woman who finds her passion and pursues it. Brava to “Egg”. I hope others enjoy reading this as much as I did.

Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and Boys in Their Lives by Sharon Flake

I really love Sharon Flake’s work, but this was not one of my favorites. Not because it was poorly written, it wasn’t. The characters stand true and speak in voices so clarion it is difficult not to hear their cry. I found the short story format, one I like, to be difficult in this instance. In most cases, the stories were too short to really grab me. There was no thread between them other than the stated title. I would have preferred to see something along the lines of Ortiz’s “An Island Like You” or the works of E.R. Frank where there are ties between the characters, however distant or occasional. There is also the darkness in these stories. The opening one, however real, made me deeply sad. Most of the others, including a heart-wrenching letter from a father to a daughter at the end, did little to lift my mood. The one story that stood out for me was that of “Mookie”. Mookie is a young man who knows how to treat a woman because of a group of very controlling female relatives. He uses this knowledge to become a “playah”, but then falls in love…real love. It was the only story in the book that utterly delighted me. Would students be attracted to this book? I think so. There is no question that what is written here is very much about life. The only question is how glossed over we like our reality.

Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I don’t want to say this was a weak book. It wasn’t. It has emotional impact. It makes you think, particularly about the “necessary lies” of life. But I didn’t love it. In part, it just isn’t my thing. With a title and cover that makes you think “romance” it is, in actuality, a kind of fictionalized memoir. The author grew up in a barrio of Las Cruces, NM named “Hollywood”. He grew up poor, Hispanic and in a time when everything was changing – the sixties. The character of Sammy really seems to be the author, a good student with a sharp mind and dreams of getting out. Sammy struggles with the pull between the nature of his community and the shattering of normalcy as societal expectations change overnight. It is a sad book. A lot of people are “lost” along the way and a sense of hopelessness and expected doom reign throughout. In some ways, it reminded me of Irish culture in the tendency towards the morose. There are strong characterizations here, and the people are very real…so real that they speak Spanish throughout. While this lent a kind of naturalness to the dialog, I found it somewhat distancing as I could not figure out what the phrases meant. I also strongly felt the book was in need of an editor. Without any given through-line, it just meanders along. At one point, Sammy has struggles during Lent…unfortunately, that episode lands squarely in the middle of summer. It was disconcerting. Had the book been streamlined, I think it would have a beauty to it. At nearly 300 pages however, it was just one too many references to fistfights and the “Aztec chin”. Mr. Saenz has a lyricism to his text. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

The Squire’s Tale by Gerald Morris

I had been looking forward to reading this series for some time. A fan of fantasy and alternative treatments of Arthurian Legend, I had heard a good deal about this series by Gerald Morris. Unfortunately, I felt quite disappointed. In many ways, Morris is faithful to the original telling of the Arthur tales – this first book in the series is fairly segmented. Within each chapter, there is a mini-adventure, and the story doesn’t move forward as much as it simply moves. The knights seemed somewhat interchangeable to me…they save maidens and hack off heads, and only occasionally have any emotional reactions. Nothing is dwelt on very much. It struck me like a computer game: Step one, cut off evil head; step two, escort lady to castle; step three, get reward from king; step four, start again. There isn’t even emotional connection to the main character, Terence, an elvish boy, as he observes the actions of his master. There are secrets about Terence, but by the time I learned some of them, I just didn’t care. Lastly, I gotta say that as an ardent feminist who adores Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Mists of Avalon”, I can say I was heartily disappointed with the depiction of females throughout this “tale”. The rescued maidens are two-dimensional, self-obsessed bores, or harping and bitter. There isn’t a decent woman among the lot. As for the rest of the series, I think I’ll pass.

Survey says...

Okay all you Harry Potter fanatics out there. It's survey time. J.K. Rowling says "two major characters will die" in the seventh book. I say it's Harry and Snape. What do you say???

More TAB reviews!

MS writes:
-- "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. This book was good and sad. Leslie gave me the great feelings! I thought Jess was okay. He didn't have much of an imagination!
-- "The BFG" by Roald Dahl. This book was a heartwarming story. I LOVE the BFG! He is so cool!
-- "Notes From a Liar and Her Dog" by Gennifer Choldenko. This is a wonderful book. I love having a book that has the main character a liar. It sparks up the book.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Utterly delightful. Downright charming. A beautiful little book marred by stupid controversy. “The Higher Power of Lucky” came out of nowhere this year to win the most coveted award in children’s literature, the Newbery. A slim volume and tremendously fast read at 133 pages, it is a simple tale richly told. Lucky is a 10½ year old girl living on the edge of the Mojave Desert. Two years earlier, her mother was killed in a freak accident. Lucky, a girl whose innocence and curiosity rings very true, spends the story trying to understand that which is fairly difficult even for adults to comprehend – the nature of life, love and loss. We begin as Lucky listens in on an AA meeting, understanding only that a “Higher Power” is something deeply desirable. She hears much that she doesn’t understand, including the word “scrotum”. And herein lies the controversy. Condemned by school librarians across the country (according to a New York Times article) the book is already being widely banned in a number of school districts. The language is deemed “inappropriate” for young children and “unnecessary to the plot”, some saying that it was placed in the book only for titillation. I couldn’t disagree more. Susan Patron, in the same NY Times article, said the word “scrotum” was “delicious”. As a cursory reading of the opening passages will indicate, the prose here is stunning. To say so much with such economy is a gift among writers, and a book of this quality, IMHO, has not been seen among the Newbery winners in quite a number of years. The “word” ***is*** important, because it shows Lucky’s childlike view of the world. She sees and hears much around her, but hasn’t quite figured out what all the pieces mean. Lucky does what many bright young children do, she attempts to make the unknown fit into her own private reasoning. What doesn’t fit, she creatively makes up stories about. From an adult perspective, there is a sweet nostalgia to her world view. A fond remembrance of the time when our “newness” in the world brought a kind of clarity. Perhaps, under their hysterical harping, this is what all the censors are really concerned about. The protagonist is a child, the book is short, there are even pictures … but it is not a child’s book. The humor is subtle, sly, and at times employs a gentle irony. Would a ten year old “get it” on that level? Probably not. But how many kids would understand and connect to Lucky’s sense of a life that is out of her control? How many kids would know exactly why she takes “a survival bag” with her everywhere so that she will always be safe? As a Newbery Medal winner, this book will be read, and if my gut has anything to say about it, this one is going to be a sentimental favorite for years to come. Take that, you book banners, you. Scrotum, scrotum, scrotum.

Tithe by Holly Black

This was my first brush with the newer genre of “Urban Fantasy”. A more contemporary and reality-grounded style hallmarked by authors such as Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman, I have to say I wasn’t wowed. In the first four chapters, our heroine gets drunk, smokes, is nearly raped, is assaulted by a second man and uses more four letter words than you might hear in the locker rooms of your average sporting event. It takes a full third of the book to get to the fantasy part of this conflicted tale, and that is colored by Dante-like images and Nietzschian philosophy. This novel is dark. Really really dark. Which I wouldn’t mind so much, but there doesn’t seem to be a point. The prose is well written, but the prose doesn’t flow. The copious description that should enhance the reader’s image instead bogs down the storyline, and the storyline itself meanders all over the place until you just want it to be over. A self-described fantasy fan but generally slow reader, I have been known to blaze through novels of this length in a week or less. This one took more than three months, and I can only think that the lengthy read was my resistance to picking it up each time I renewed efforts to finish it. Despite all appearances – a moody fairy gracing the cover, chapter headings with intriguing quotes – I have to believe there is something fundamentally wrong with any book that makes me pick “doing laundry” over “finding out what happens next”. There is obviously a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be in any rush to read it.

TAB Reviews

LA writes:
-- "The Blue Djinn of Babylon" by P.B. Kerr. This is definitely a worthy sequel to the “Akhenaten Adventure”, explaining the many adventures of two young djinn, John and Philippa. This time, Philippa is kidnapped, and John and his Uncle Nimrod must attempt to find her. But this is not easy – she turns out to be in the palace of the Blue Djinn of Babylon, a famously indifferent djinn who sees Good and Evil as dangerously close to the same thing – and wants Philippa to be her successor! Once again, each of the twins travel across the globe, searching and solving puzzles. This series really makes you think – which I love.
-- "Gregor and the Marks of Secret" by Suzanne Collins. I liked this series a lot at first – particularly the character of Boots, who I find absolutely adorable – but as the series has gotten darker so has my attitude toward it. This particular book is undoubtedly meant to be a World War Two parallel, what with the mice in the gas chambers and the Bone (the rat that Gregor saved in a previous book) sweet-talking them into doing these horrible things. Having read this book at a time when I was in fact studying World War Two in school, this sounded cheesy and clichéd to me immediately. Maybe Suzanne Collins found this “deep” material, but I thought it was sick, disgusting, and just plain dumb. I think that Collins should go back to what she is best at – writing fresh, *original* pieces.
-- "The Wall and the Wing" by Laura Ruby. This book chronicles the story of a girl named, rather obviously, Gurl. She lives in a world where most people – called “Wings” are able to fly, most a few inches above the ground. Gurl can’t – she eventually learns that she is a Wall – she can become invisible. Later, she becomes friends with a boy called Bug, due to his odd facial expression. Gurl finds a kitten – rare for this world – on one of her excursions. But later, the head of the orphanage captures it so that Gurl will steal for her, invisible. Gurl and Bug concoct several plans to change this, and learn several awful truths along the way. Untrustworthy monkeys, an evil, conniving father, a long lost family, a pen with magical properties, and a professor with hair of grass all make an appearance. "The Wall and the Wing" is definitely one of the most original stories I have read in an extremely long time, not to mention full of wonderful writing. This is a fantastic book that anyone could read and enjoy.
-- "Fly by Night" by Frances Hardinge. "Fly by Night" is a terrific book that tells about the venturer of Mosca Mye, a poor girl who changes her life by becoming a servant to the conman Eponymous Clent. In Mosca’s world, people are utterly fearful of an unknown guild of people called the “Birdcatchers” and try to calm themselves by praying to one of their many gods that corresponds with their names. Mosca’s means “the housefly” – therefore she prays to Goodman Palpitattle, a recurring icon in the book. However, Moscda is a suspicious person – throughout the book she spies, watches, and examines countless people and situations. This book is extremely unpredictable, so it keeps the reader curious throughout its entirety. I absolutely loved this book.
-- "Pure Dead Batty" by Debi Gliori. I loved the first two books in the “Pure Dead” series, but by the time “Pure Dead Brilliant” came around, this series had started going downhill. This book chronicles Titus, Pandora, and Damp going on a desperate search for their nanny, Flora MacLachlan. In the previous book, she had gone missing – I was too bored to remember why. Thre are still the usual beasts in this book – and Nestor is enjoyable, as usual, -- but there just isn’t enough material to keep me interested. I hope that someday Debi Gliori writes a better addition to the series – something that *explains* the connections we’ve been seeing in the past three!
-- "Charlie Bone and the Hidden King" by Jenny Nimmo. An absolutely thrilling conclusion to the widespread “Children of the Red King” series, this book’s only fault is the loose ends that weren’t tied up. (However, this does not matter so much to me, because a recent search on Amazon.com shows me a new book about Charlie’s world coming out in a few months!) This being so, the story tells about what happens this time when Charlie Bone returns to Bloor’s Academy for another term. It is discovered that a suspicious tree is really the red kind, disguised, and Charlie need to find a way to release him, because the notorious “Yewbean Aunts” are plotting something … and Charlie needs to know what. Characters are, as always, memorable, and Charlie, as always, succeeds. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book – even if it’s clichéd, even if it’s borderline plagiarism (which I doubt) … this series is wonderful.
-- "Caddy Ever After" by Hilary McKay. I *LOVED* this book sooooo much – this series is completely amazing – unlike anything I have ever read and fantastically BRITISH. In "Caddy Ever After", the story is told from the point of view of each of the four main characters, where their part fits in. In previous books, everything was told from the third person. I think I enjoy Rose’s part the best, because of the original way she thinks and acts – but I also love reading about Saffy – I don’t sympathize with her as much any more, but I still love it – and of course Indigo and Caddy. In this tale, Caddy is getting married, Saffy is cheering up sick best friend Sarah, Indigo is in love, and Rose is just … Rose. Obviously Eve and Bill are there to make everything more complicated, and then there are the matters of Tom and Michael – I can’t explain everyting here – READ THE BOOK!
-- "The Pinhoe Egg" by Diana Wynne Jones. A new installment in Diana Wynne Jones’ excellent “Chrestomanci” series, the Pinhole Egg describes the happenings of Marianne Pinhoe and Cat Chant (a recurring character). Marianne’s grandmother has gone insane, and her family’s spells – all illegal! -- are flying around absolutely everywhere. Marianne gives Cat a large, golden egg and that’s when things start to happen … I love this book, because obviously it’s part of a great series, but also because of the amazing detail involved in it. Diana Wynne Jones allows me to really *see* everything that is going on in the book. When it is over you really feel that you *know* the characters. And of course, it is sad to leave them.

TS writes:
-- "Curse of the Bane" by Joseph Delaney. The second book in the Las Apprentice series. Tom Ward continues his apprenticeship with Gregory the Spook. This time he travels to Priestown where there are, you guessed it, a lot of priests. In Priestown they confront the Bane. Another tale of magic & evil demons, Joseph Delaney give readers a truly spooky book. However, I personally wouldn’t subject this to the faint hearted readers, it is truly frightening.

CK writes:
-- "Rash" by Pete Hautman. Even though this book takes place in the Future (which is cool), Pete Hautman makes the book seem very boring. I didn’t even want to finish the book because it was that boring. 2 thumbs down.
-- "Chasing the Jaguar" by Michele Dominguez Greene. This is an extremely exciting book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a great mystery book. I also like how the author includes Spanish words which really helped me practice my Spanish and learn new words.

CM writes:
-- "The Wall and the Wing" by Laura Ruby. I thought the plot moved along, and I could relate to the characters.

JV writes:
-- "My Almost Epic Summer" by Adele Griffin. Really funny! Irene has big dreams for starting her own hair salon, but she is always messing up at her mother’s hair salon. When she goes to babysit 2 kids for the summer she meets an extremely pretty girl and a dude from her elementary school. This is a really exciting book that you won’t be able to put down.
-- "The Wright 3" by Blue Balliet. A really good mystery book. Really suspenseful. I advice to read "Chasing Vermeer", the first in the series first.
-- "The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas" by Tracy Mack. This was a very suspenseful mystery book. It was very exciting and a lot easier to understand than the regular Sherlock Holmes books.
-- "You Know You Love Me" by Cecily von Ziegesar. I have read the other ones in the Gossip Girl series and I think that this one was the best. It was kind of suspenseful and really funny.

Here's a bunch of reviews from TAB member, LY!

The Palace of Laughter- Jon Berekeley
This book is well written and fast paced, for those of you who hate to read slow moving books. It is about a young boy who tries to enter a circus that seems to pop up overnight. There he meets all kinds of wonders and things that shouldn't exist. When he meets a little girl named Little, he learns that there is something wrong with the circus and what it is. Such as a little man calling himself the Great Cortado *my nickname for him just happens to be Ego-stroker* planning world domination and an assortment of other things.

Fairest-Gail Carson Levine.
This book is kind of like the sequel to Ella Enchanted. It has the same setting and it's in the same time period. One of the characters is also in Ella Enchanted. The only difference is that this girl, unlike Ella, is the supposed daughter of an innkeeper. But her singing voice and the blanket she was found in, proves different. She discovers that she can do all kinds of things with her voice. And eventually someone really important asks for her help. ( Mainly because of her cat)

Changeling- Delia Sherman
A changeling is a human that was switched at birth with a fairy child. This changeling, known as Neef, now lives in the New York Between, where everything magical comes to life. Animals talk, and there are beasts that will hunt you down if you're not careful. Neef, excited about the upcoming Solstice dance, breaks her treaty with the Green Lady of Central Park. In order to regain every right and protection that she had under the treaty back, she must go on a quest for 3 impossible items.

Fire Star- Chris D'Lacey
The third book in the series, another book full of dragons, talking animals, and, of course, one of the best story lines ever. This time, he's got a polar bear on his tail, one trying to steal the gem he holds. He has no idea how to defend himself, but then, think about it. Would you if you were freezing your butt off?