Book Reommendations

A popular question on this site is the one that asks for book recommendations.  To answer this questions, click on the Goodreads widget on the page and you can find what you are looking for.  Books that have 4 or 5 stars are highly recommended.  Happy Reading!

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What I’ve been reading in my absence from blogging...
Current mood: relaxed
Category: Writing and Poetry

It's been so busy around here that although I have been reading, it just has taken me longer to get through the books.  Two recent reads of mine are; "The Looking Glass Wars" by Frank Beddor and "Nightmare Academy" by Dean Lorey.

Because I am a big fan of Alice in Wonderland (Disney and classic versions both), and the real story of Charles Dodgson and Alice Liddell, this was a natural fit for me.  However, this is not just another girly rendition of the classic, no, no, it's soooooo much more.  With an albino named Bibwit Harte, a protector with a large hat that will slice and dice named Hatter Mattigan, and the evil Queen Redd who will do anything to take the throne away from Princess Alyss, this book is for everyone!  It even has a soundtrack which is amazing!  One of the songs has been on this site for some time now.  For more information about this book go to; www.lookingglasswars.com

The other book that I was so excited to read is "Nightmare Academy".  What got me so excited was the amazing website for the book www.deanlorey.com.  I had months to get to know the characters online and then when I got to read the book, and it all seemed to come to life!  The book has so many fun lines in it, but, my favorite one is "I'm on a dragon kick right now" by Violet Sweet.  This is an imaginative book about a kid who thinks he's a freak and his parents keep him at home away from other children due to some very strange occurances in his past.  It seems that his nighmares are real!  Think about having this boy at your next slumber party along with a few uninvited guests from the Netherland!

As of right now, I am devouring Lisa Ann Sandell's "Song of the Sparrow"!  I was elated to see that it was a featured book on the Scholastic book fair this year so I wanted to read it in order to be able to endorse it.  I also read it because Lisa is such a sweet person who I have enjoyed conversing with online, as well as being the editor for my friends' books "The Revenge of the Shadow King" and "The Rise of the Black Wolf"

Anyway, I am highly recommended "Song of the Sparrow" even before I have finished it, but I will follow up with a complete blog when I am done.

Currently reading : Song Of The Sparrow By Lisa Ann Sandell Release date: 01 May, 2007

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Miss Spitfire
Current mood: awake
Category: Writing and Poetry

I've always been fascinated by the story of Helen Keller and have probably watched "The Miracle Worker" a few dozen times, so I knew that this book would be for me.  It's an inspiring story of Anne Sullivan who was the young woman sent to teach Helen, but in turn, Helen taught her.  The book encompasses so many emotions; frustration, loneliness, triumph and most importantly, love.  It shows what a true teacher will do to ensure his/her student is successful.

I loved this book and encourage all of you to run out and get it as I did the day that it came out. 

You can visit author, Sarah Miller's Myspace page at:  http://www.myspace.com/sarahsbooks  

or at her webpage:  www.SarahMillerBooks.com

Currently reading : The Looking Glass Wars By Frank Beddor Release date: 26 September, 2006

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Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Writing and Poetry

I just finished reading "Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress" that was recommended by two friends of mine, and now I know why.  It was great!  Even though it is more of a teen book, it "totally" brought me back to my high school days.  The story was great, and the message at the end of the book was fantastic!  I'll be digging out my old prom dress and doing the #1 Use.

Currently reading : Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller By Sarah Miller Release date: 10 July, 2007

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The Tiger Rising
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Writing and Poetry

This was an impulse buy.  I was wandering through the aisles of Target and saw this tiny paperback called The Tiger Rising, another book from Kate DiCamillo.  I'm becomming a big fan of this author.  I loved The Tale of Despereaux and I loved this book.  It is a tiny book filled with emotion and symbolism.  Although a shorter story, Kate does a great job of creating characters that you can identify with.  You may not have had the same experiences as the kids in this book, but you can feel the pain and joy , because all of us have loved someone and something.  (This will make more sense after reading the book)

Currently reading : Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress By Tina Ferraro Release date: 13 March, 2007

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Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature
Current mood: chipper
Category: Writing and Poetry

I was very lucky to have been able to read an ARC (advance reader copy) of Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by first time author, Robin Brande!  This book has got to be one of the best books I have ever read!  It is scheduled to be released August 28th and there will be a big release party at Changing Hands Bookstore that day!  Pre-order or plan to be at a bookstore that day!

The book deals with the topics of evolution vs creationism, religion vs science and the separation of church and state.  The science teacher is someone who I wish I had had in school, she is the kind that makes learning interesting and fun, yet some of the students in her class don't want to hear what she has to say, which in my opinion is terribly sad.

Whether or not you agree with what the book has to say, it is definitely worth your time.  Please, please, please, pick this one up when it comes out, or better yet, pre-order!

Currently reading : The Tiger Rising By Kate Dicamillo Release date: 01 July, 2002

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Here, There Be Dragons
Current mood: happy
Category: Writing and Poetry

I finished reading Here, There Be Dragons and it was a "fantastical" ride!  James Owen does an amazing job mixing reality and fiction together!  I loved all of the references to historical and mythological characters and events, and I can't wait to see how the movie turns out.  James is currently writing the screenplay for the movie that has been picked up by Warner Brothers.  David Heyman, producer of the Harry Potter movies has signed on to work on Here, There Be Dragons!  It's so exciting!

Don't wait for the movie to come out (two years or so), read the book, I guarantee that you will love it!

Currently reading : Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature By Robin Brande Release date: 28 August, 2007

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What a FANTASTIC night!

So I went to the Shannon Hale book signing tonight and was completely blown away!  As soon as I walked in I ran into Jon Lewis (The Revenge of the Shadow King & The Rise of the Black Wolf) and his family who was there to meet Shannon.  Then just before Shannon took the stage I turned and who should I see but Stephenie Meyer!  Okay, three famous authors in one room, it was just so exciting! 

The evening was terrific!  Even though Shannon had to hurry through her presentation and the signing because she had to catch a flight, I have to say she filled every minute with laughter!  I highly recommend catching her the next time she is in your town! 

I really enjoyed chatting with Jon and meeting Shannon.  Stephenie had quite a crowd around her so I didn't get to talk to her, but that's okay because I will definitely see her in August for her next event.

Anyway, it's almost 1 a.m., time for a little sleep.

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READ! READ! READ! READ!
Current mood: groggy
Category: Writing and Poetry

So I was reading Laura Bowers blog the other day and she had written a list of the books she had been reading this summer and planned to read, so I felt that I should make the committment and jot mine down for all to see.  Oh, my stack of books increases daily and there is no way I can keep up with it, but I intend to try. My summer has now started and so far, here are the books that I have read:
Done, finished, etc:
THE RISE OF THE BLACK WOLF by Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis
YELLOW STAR by Jennifer Roy
FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull
AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by Kate DiCamillo
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS by John Boyne

Currently reading:
HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS by James A. Owen
and a grown up book to be unnamed >:)

and then there's my list of 20 books to read asap:
I WAS A NON-BLONDE CHEERLEADER by Kieran Scott
TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS by Tina Ferraro
FABLEHAVEN, RISE OF THE EVENING STAR by Brandon Mull
MISS SPITFIRE by Sarah Miller
GENTLE'S HOLLER by Kerry Madden
LOUISIANA'S SONG by Kerry Madden
SONG OF THE SPARROW by Lisa Ann Sandell
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS by Sara Shepard
IN THE CASA AZUL by Meaghan Delahunt
BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT by Laura Bowers
THE NAKED MOLE-RAT LETTERS by Mary Amato
THE TIGER RISING by Kate DiCamillo
INKSPELL by Cornelia Funke
INKHEART by Cornelia Funke
MAY BIRD by Jodi Lynn Anderson
MAGYK by Angie Sage
POND SCUM by Alan Silberberg
PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale
EVOLUTION, ME & OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE by Robin Brande
DRAGONS KEEP by Janet Lee Carey
and there are soooooo many more! I have over 220 authors on my site, I am going to go broke! :) (but I'll have fun doing it!)

Currently reading : Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, the) By James A. Owen Release date: 26 September, 2006

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Current mood: lazy
Category: Writing and Poetry

I went into reading this book blindly.  I avoided looking it up online, visiting the author site and talking to others about it, and I can say that I'm glad I did.  I did have an idea of what the subject matter was, however I did not know what kind of story it would present.  This book is one that you can't skip a sentence, you must read it word for word because each chapter leads you into the end (which normally great stories do, however, sometimes there tends to be too much delay by pages of descriptors).  Anyway, I can't tell you about it because that would ruin it for you, but I do highly recommend this book!  Currently I am taking a side street and reading a grown up book and when I finish that I will be back to "Here, There Be Dragons" (so I've posted it as my current book below.

Happy Reading!

Currently reading : Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, the) By James A. Owen Release date: 26 September, 2006

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