32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny

I picked this book out from Amazon to give to Elle's teacher.

Elle and I spent a great deal of time clicking on the "Surprise Me" button on Amazon reading excerpts.

I finally checked it out of the library, and we've been laughing hysterically at all the fun stories!

New Brandon Mull!

Beyonders comes out March 15, (happy birthday to me) and is the first book in a new series by Brandon Mull, who wrote the FANTASTIC Fablehaven books. I snagged the description from Amazon:

The first book in a new series (Beyonders), A World Without Heroes is an addictive blend of fantasy, humor, and heroic quest. Jason is an ordinary 13-year-old involuntarily transported to Lyrian, a world ruled by the evil wizard Maldor. Jason stumbles across a book bound with human skin and learns of a secret word with the power to unmake Maldor--knowledge that puts Jason in grave danger. Galloran, a blind king who once searched for the word himself, introduces Jason to Rachel, another Beyonder (as people from Earth are called) who had appeared in Lyrian at the same time. Jason and Rachel set out to retrieve the word, and the resulting pages are filled with adventure, drama, loyalty and betrayal—a treat for fans of Mull’s Fablehaven series or those discovering this bestselling author for the first time.--Seira Wilson

YA Paranormal Bug

As I typed the title to this post I realized that I really can't claim that the bug has recently bitten me. I read my first YA Paranormal nearly ten years ago, when I started Meg Cabot's Mediator series, and I've pretty much been searching for more at a desperate pace ever since.

It's just so stinking fun to read!

I recently read several, and I liked nearly all of them, so I'm sharing. Tess Oliver has three books available on Amazon as kindle editions right now - but I cannot find them in hard/paperback form. Not sure if she's publishing straight to kindle or what. Anyway, I'm currently reading the 3rd (they are not a series) and have enjoyed them all immensely so far. There is a little language in Safe Landing , and some "British" language in Camille:

Which is about a werewolf hunter who falls for a recently infected young man. It was loads of fun, and all three books total $4.97 on kindle. Love!

The others I have recently enjoyed are:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver. I don't remember, but there is probably some language in that one.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefavter. Not super deep, and I'm not interested in reading about other characters in the 2nd and 3rd books, but it was a fun take on the werewolf legend.

And then there's Immortal, by Lauren Burd. Of this book, two things are certain:

1. The editor, if there was one, should be fired. (the sentence structure was SO bad.)

2. S. Meyer could probably successfully sue the lady. The characters, situations, even the conversations are that similar. I made it 70% of the way through the train wreak before I tossed it away in disgust. And it is not often that I cannot bring myself to finish a story and see how it ends.

Enjoy!

Paranormalcy

I'm too fresh off the high of just having finished a really fun book to give you all a proper what's-it-all-about here so I'll just say:

Kiersten White has a great, great voice. Reading her is easy - like Meg Cabot easy (better? dare I say it?) and the pacing was simply fantastic. I was not given the option to put this book down. My children had ramen for lunch and I am still in my 6 a.m jogging clothes because after I got home and sat down with it I did nothing else until I finished.

Now elation and despair are warring within me, elation from reading such an enjoyable story, and despair at my ever, ever actually hammering out a text of my own. Argh!

Just, go read it.

Good YA Fantasy

Star Crossed was written by the same lady who wrote A Curse Dark as Gold. I didn't read her earlier work, but I enjoyed Star Crossed more than I have enjoyed a YA Fantasy for a LONG time! There is magic in her world, but no unicorns or fairies - it's more like a magical tale set in dark-ages earth. Not too fantastical, for you non goblin story lovers.
The plot of Secondhand Charm made a turn around 1/3 of the way through the book that was interesting and fun to read and completely unexpected. Loved the book! This one seems to be set in a very earth-like world, with christianity and place names being the same. But there are some fantastical creatures and some magic.

Vintage Favorites

When winter weather starts I always feel a pull towards my old favorite books; many series that I read while I was younger and there was nothing to do but watch the snow fall claim space in my memory this time of year. My mom had bookshelves full of books that she read when she was young and these were my favorites:

can you guess who this is?

Georgette Heyer! Who published her first book at the age of 19. Who married a few years later and managed never to leak to her fans her new married name. Who never gave an interview, never did any publicity. Her private life was her private life, she said. And she didn't need publicity to sell her fantastically clever and detailed novels of regency England. Pretty much nobody ever knew who she was until she died.

The Grand Sophy is my favorite. I have read it more than any other of her novels (like I said, every winter..) and I always chuckle at the antics of her characters.

Lady of Quality is also a good one. Other favorites are The Masqueraders, These Old Shades, Frederica, and Arabella.

Next up, the incomparable Mary Stewart.

Her extensive travels with her husband enabled her to write perfect descriptions of places all over the world. When she describes Greece, you feel as though you could go without any guidebook but the novel you are reading. Suspense, adventure, romance! I want to be Mary Stewart when I grow up.

This one has a slightly paranormal bent to it. It's pretty eery in places and very suspenseful.

I have read this book more than any other book in the history of books that I have read. My copy is falling all to pieces.

My second favorite of hers - the romantic story in this one reminds me very much of Hitchcock's "Charade". And it's possibly the best car chase scene ever written. (I say, with my um, extensive knowledge of car chase scenes. That have been written)

This last author tricked me. And I didn't appreciate it. But I still very much enjoyed their books and so I shall share:
Another author that does settings all over the globe. Some a little over dramatic, but can I say I don't like that? no. No I can't. Golden Urchin is the story of a white girl raised by Aborigines who has to travel halfway across the world and back to find out where she really belongs. Love story? Duh. have I ever posted a book that wasn't? oh, well, maybe that one...

Love this book, love it love it love it. Girl runs away to join the circus. Enough said! Okay I'll say more. After an attempt is made at her life, she goes back to her roots to find a safe haven and some answers. But is she really safe there? Dum, da dum dum!

I'd been reading Madeline Brent's work and thoroughly enjoying it for years before I came across a photo of "her".

"Madeline Brent" being the pen name for Peter O'Donnell, who was most famous for a series he wrote called "Modesty Blaise" - which was basically a female James Bond. Touche, Peter. I'll still read your books. But I'm annoyed with you on a permanent basis. Call me sexist.

I Shall Wear Midnight

After I finished the first page of this book, I did 3 things:

1. Remembered why I love Terry Pratchett so, so much. SO MUCH, people!

2. Told my kids I was very sorry but I would not be available for making food or changing diapers for the near future.

3. Decided that The Wee Free Men series may actually top Harry Potter for my favorites.

I love these books! If you have not read them, you have done yourself a disservice. You are living a half life! This book is number four, after Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, and Wintersmith. If you go to amazon.com, you can purchase it for half the price I got it for at Barnes&Noble....grumble grumble.

Hooray!