Current & previous staff reviews (by year):
April 2005
Looking For Alaska (Penguin Putnam, $15.99)
I hadn't planned to read this book in one sitting, but I couldn't help myself. The story is told from the point of view of Miles Halter, nicknamed "Pudge" on his first day by The Colonel. Pudge has come to Culver Creek to seek his Great Perhaps. The first half of the novel, entitled "before", introduces us to a group of smart and mischievous juniors at a boarding school in Alabama. Their relationships, interactions, and hijinks are laugh–out–loud funny, and unashamedly honest. The second half of the book, "after", is as profound and heartbreaking as the first half is hilarious. The story is an honest and probing examination of how we deal with grief and loss, as The Colonel and Pudge try to come to terms with a senseless tragedy. No young person (and I include twenty-somethings in this group) can read this novel and not be changed in some way by it. (Ages 14 and up — and I really mean it. No mature 12 and 13–year–olds!) --Emma Casale
The Midnighters 2: Touching Darkness (HarperCollins, $15.99)
In Bixby, Alabama there is a 25th hour in every day, populated by creatures known as Darkings who hate everything to do with light and life. Only those humans born at the precise moment of midnight are even conscious during the secret hour, and they call themselves Midnighters. Jess's addition to the rank of Midnighters has completed the range of abilities they can possess: Seer, Mindcaster, Acrobat, Polymath and Light-Bringer. Since Jess's arrival the Darkings have been relatively quiet, but they have suddenly become more active and are advancing further into the humans' settlements and the Midnighters want to know why. The answer is worse than any of them could have imagined and one of their number is in terrible danger. This second installment to the Midnighters Trilogy adds considerable depth to the characters and begins to explain the fate of the Midnighters who came before. (Ages 10+) --Emma Casale
Blood Red Horse (Walker, $16.95)
A riveting historical novel set in the early middle ages, Blood Red Horse depicts the horrors of the crusades as well as the adventure and romance of the period. The memorable characters, Christian, Muslim and Equine, bring believability and a sense of hope to this engrossing, informative novel. Luckily, this is only Book One of the Granville Trilogy. We can expect more from K.M. Grant, hopefully about Hosanna, the amazing blood red horse. --JoAnn Fruchtman
Montmorency on the Rocks: doctor, aristocrat, murderer? (Scholastic,
$16.95)
If you enjoyed Eleanor Updale's first novel, Montmorency: Thief, Gentleman, Liar?, you wil be glad to know that the sequel was just published. In this second installment, Updale takes our hero, Montmorency, from Constantinople to Tarimond, Scotland. Montmorency must face his alter ego Scarper, as well as opium addiction and murder. Although this book is more sentimental than the first, the mystery still enthralls and confounds, until you've suspected everyone but the culprit and ends with a startling conclusion.(Ages 12+) --Lisa Cody
Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery (Walker, $16.95)
Captain Raptor, is, in fact, a raptor dinosaur and comes from a planet inhabited by intelligent dinosaurs. When aliens land on Eos, on of the planet's moons, Captain Raptor is sent to investigate. He and his trusty crew fly their rocketship, the Megatoot, to Eos where they are caught in a violent electrical storm that causes them to crash into the thrashing ocean. Will the crew of the Megatooth survive the crash? Are the aliens dangerous invaders or friendly explorers? Ages 5 and up will enjoy this creative and surprising story with its stunning illustrations. --Lisa Cody
The Golden Goose (Random House, $15.95)
Some people are just unlucky; they are miserable, sad, and hopeless. John Skint is one of these people, until Misery and Sorrow, his goose and gander, produce a golden egg from which hatches a golden gosling. This little gosling makes John Skint a changed man, and brings good luck and happiness back to the Skint family and to Woebegone Farm. Read this heartwarming story and find out what the Skint family decides to name their golden goose. This is a great read-aloud for ages 5+ or an independent read for ages 7-10. --Lisa Cody
Scorpia: An Alex Ryder Adventure (Penguin Putnam, $17.00)
Alex Ryder tempts fate once again by infiltrating the international criminal organization, Scorpia, driven by the need to learn the truth about his father. Was he an agent for M16 or was he actually a Scorpia assasin? Alex must decide between M16 and the temptations of Scorpia. This fifth Alex Ryder adventure will not disappoint and delivers a shocking conclusion. (Ages 10+) --Lisa Cody