Holes by Louis Sachar

I finished reading Holes by Sachar (Newberry Award winner of 1999) last week. I absolutely loved it. I think it's my favorite Newberry winner so far.

If you haven't read it, it's about a boy, Stanley, who is sent away to a correctional camp in Texas called Camp Green Lake. Only there is no lake, and it's certainly not green. It's in the middle of the desert and the boys who are sent there are forced to dig one hole each day. In between Stanley's story are the stories of Stanley's great grandfather, which takes place in Latvia, and the story of Kate Barlow, which takes place a hundred years ago in the city of Green Lake (when there really was a lake).

I loved how Sachar connected the past and the present, and how the things that Kate Barlow did helped Stanley get out of his predicament. And the reason why the boys are digging holes. Great book. I highly recommend it if you've never read it.

If you would like to check it out at SPL click here.

Toys Go Out: being the adventures of a knowledgeable Stingray, a toughy little Buffalo, and someone called Plastic

This was a very endearing story about the secret lives of toys and other everyday objects. They experience anxiety about the unknown and their futures. They worry about who (or what) they are and what place they occupy in the world. This humorous and sweet story is suggested for ages seven and up, but I'd recommend it to people of all ages, especially families who are looking for a story to share together. To find Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins in the SPL catalog, click here.

Tiger, Tiger

I just finished listening to the audio book of Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks. Set in ancient Rome, this is the story of two tiger cubs, brothers captured and brought to Rome to fight in the arena. One cub is saved from this fate when the Emperor decides to give that cub to his daughter as a gift. The story contrasts the life of this cub, named Boots by his mistress, with the harsh and terrible life of his brother, known only as Brute, who is raised to fight and kill in the arena for the pleasure of the crowd. Parts of the story are told from the perspectives of the cubs, and other parts are from the perpectives of the humans who touch their lives, especially the Emperor's daughter, Aurelia, and Julian, the slave who is responsible for Boots. Aurelia loves her new pet, and with Julian's help, she bonds emotionally with the cub. A very sensitive girl, she despises the bloody games in the arena and tries to be kind to everyone around her. Everything goes well until a thoughtless prank by Aurelia and her cousin Marcus ends in tragedy and threatens everything Aurelia holds dear. An odd twist at the end of book made it very unexpected but satisfying for me.

This was a great story, but I would recommend that young or very sensitive readers approach it with caution, since some of the descriptions of the arena and Brute's training were a little more graphic than I expected. Although all of the characters are fictitious, the historical aspects of the book are quite accurate to other descriptions I've read of this time period and could be distressing to some readers.

Click here to find Tiger, Tiger as a book on CD at SPL.
Click here to find Tiger, Tiger as a print book at SPL.

Caddy Ever After

I just finished Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay. It is McKay's fourth books about the unique Casson family. The series starts with Saffy's Angel, then Indigo's Star, and Permanent Rose. Set in England, it is the continuing story of an artistic family with four children. I really love the characters in this series. This particular volume is the story of the events leading up to the wedding of the oldest sister, Caddy. The book is written in first person, with each of the four siblings having a chance to tell their part of the story.

What makes this series work for me is that the characters just seem to come off the page. I've looked forward to each new volume as a chance to visit again with old friends. The family is unconventional, complicated, a little odd even, and their voices draw you into the story, making you want to know more. At the end of each book, I've found myself hoping that their will be another volume. If you are looking for a satisfying read with enjoyable characters, start with Saffy's Angel, and you will find yourself reading all the way through to Caddy Ever After in no time.

The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe

About a year ago I began reading through The Chronicles of Narnia In “Published order.” That is, I started with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and followed it with Prince Caspian. When I decided I wanted to read these books recently I was surprised to find out that they were recently re-published in chronological order! Apparently this has stirred some controversy. Wikipedia has the break-down on it, if you are interested.

As for The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, it is such a beautiful story. Gorgeous imagery. Fantastic characters. All in all, a wonderful story. I loved it when I was a kid, and I am even more pleased with it reading it as an adult. The most memorable scene in the book from when I read it years ago was the chapter on Turkish Delight. I was so intrigued with Turkish Delight after reading it that to this day I am dying to try some! I still haven't tried it. Maybe I should go find a recipe :) .

Click here to find this wonderful classic at SPL.

Diary of a Fairy Godmother

I listened to the audio version of Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji and thought it was highly entertaining. The reader was really good. The story itself was excellent. One of the best juvenile fiction stories I have read in awhile. It’s about a young witch who realizes that she likes to grant wishes. This mortifies her family and friends, but she can’t help it. When she discovers that there is such a thing as a fairy godmother (an FG) she decides she would like to pursue that line of “work.” The story has such a wonderful message: “be the person you are, even if you are different from everyone else.” The book is very humorous and both kids and adults will find it a fun read, IMHO. I highly recommend it.

You can find this book in the SPL catalog by clicking here.