I was a reluctant reader until I reached about third grade. This statement may seem a bit of a shocker to you, considering I'm always reading now. Currently, my reading goal for this year is to read 200 books and I just finished my 106th book this afternoon. I'm a firm believer that no one hates reading, they just hate what they are reading. By my elementary school librarian's and my older sibling's persistence, I got out of my reading funk. I started reading the Ramona Quimby books and then slowly graduated up to new series.
    One of my favorite series until sixth grade was the Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene. I loved Nancy because not only was she smart, but she was also a leader, assertive, and a girl like me. I don't remember her being boy crazy (I vaguely remember her boyfriend, but can't remember his name or any specifics) or ditzy.  She made the impossible possible and all the while being graceful and respectful.
    I remember going to my local Chicago Public Library and come back with a bag full of Nancy Drew Mysteries. If the Hardy Boys were involved then that was a bonus since the book would be larger. Of course at that time, I didn't realize that: a) all the books were formulaic and b) Carolyn Keene was not a real person, but composed of ghost writers who wrote many other popular series. When I came across my next book, Girl Sleuth: Nancy and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to rediscover my love for the character.

Description: Girl Sleuth takes a look at how the beloved female detective, Nancy Drew, was created from the imagination of Edward Stratemeyer in 1929 and raised after his death in 1930 by his daughter Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Mildred Wirt Benson, a journalist who was the first to write the novels under the pen name Carolyn Keene. 

Review: I really enjoyed reading Girl Sleuth. Not only did I learn new facts such as Edward Stratemeyer was also the writer of the Bobbsey Twins and Hardy Boys, which were all written under different pseudonyms, but I also learned more about the children publishing industry. Nancy Drew is very much a creation of social history, particularly of the women's liberation movement, and of Adams's and Benson's own belief systems. I was very surprised to know that there were hardly any books written for young girls in the 1920s. Stratemeyer created Nancy Drew after observing his tomboyish daughter. He wanted to create a female character that other girls can look up to and aspire. The author does a great job in reflecting how Nancy Drew mirrors girls' lives and the ups and downs of the women's movement, but at times I was confused as to if I was reading a history book rather than a literary criticism. The background information of key moments in Women's History was a bit much and I felt like I was in a Feminist 101 course in college. Regardless, I thought the book was a fun read and think other Nancy Drew fans will appreciate the author's work.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and mention of sex in the book, but mostly in the social history context of the 1960s and beyond.

If you like this book, try: Nancy Drew's Guide to Life by Jennifer Worick

     We all have bad days. Days where nothing seems to go right at all and all you want to do is stay in bed, but how do you deal with chronic bad days? When you are constantly faced with obstacles that you can't solve and people who refuse to mend their ways, how do you prevent yourself from becoming jaded and cynical? How much can you take until you breakdown? These are the questions that played over and over in my mind while I read Leslie Connor's multiple award winning novel called Waiting for Normal.

Description: Addie has been separated from her beloved stepfather and her stepsisters. She and her mother live in a small trailer by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Schenectady, New York. Addie tries to cope with her mother's erratic behavior and relies on herself to survive. All Addie wants is a life where normal exists, a day where she can count on the people she loves to be there and not disappear.

Review: Waiting for Normal is a heartbreaking story of abandonment, yearn of love, and where persistence and a positive attitude prevails. Since her mother disappears for countless numbers of days (many of which are not known ahead of time), 12 year old Addie is forced to grow-up and raise herself. She tries to make the best of a bad condition by making friends with a local mini-mart and to focus on the opportunities where she can see her stepfather and stepsisters. Addie is a character that embodies positive thinking and persistence. I did have a hard time, however, buying her positive thinking. I expected her to breakdown and stand up for herself a lot sooner than she did in the book. There were times when her dialogue was not fit for a 12 year old but rather an adult, which is the author's point: a normal, 12 year old does not have to worry whether or not she has enough to eat or wait until late at night to reassure herself that her mother will return.
   Waiting for Normal is not really an uplifting book. For majority of the novel, Addie's mother acts as a child. She is moody, spends her time by surfing the Internet or watching TV. There were several moments where I wanted to shake her and yell at her for not taking care of her daughter. The author does not give a reason why Addie's mother acts the way she does. There are some hints that she might be manic depressive or bipolar. What is mentioned, however, is her history of finding a new man and becoming pregnant with another child. I was disappointed that the other adults in Addie's life didn't step up and help her when they knew she was in trouble. Addie does get a happy ending, but she deserves more. Overall, an okay book that made me really sad. 


Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None.

If you like this book, try: Pollyanna by Elena H. Porter

  Last night I had to occupied myself with reading Heist Society by Ally Carter while waiting to see the midnight premiere of Eclipse. I was instantly absorbed and temporarily forgot about my internal countdown that was going on in my head. Frankly, this is very hard to do, however, this book captured my attention so completely that the next thing I knew I was already halfway down with the book and it was time to go to the theaters! In fact, after I came back from the movie at 2:30 am, I really wanted to pick it up and finish it but I had to force myself to go to bed instead (Watch my blog for my upcoming  movie review on "Eclipse"). Heist Society is a phenomenal book that will be most likely be talked about amongst young adults and checked out constantly at the library.

Description (from the inside panel): When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.
       Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

Review: Heist Society is one of those rare books that reads like a movie. Carter's descriptions are so detailed that I could picture the characters and the settings without any difficulty. Heist Society is a teen version of Ocean 11. Instead of the rat pack, you get a bunch of sophisticated, smart, and cunning group of teens who have been brought up in con artistry: Kat is the leader and mastermind, who reluctantly comes back to the "family business" to clear up her father's name. Her best friend and maybe something more friend, Hale, is a teenage version of Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief i.e.very suave, smooth, witty, and handsome. Gabrielle is the beautiful distraction. A pair of British twin brothers are the muscle and Simon, the squeamish computer whiz. I loved all of the characters. Kat comes off as a smart, brave, loyal, assertive, and sassy girl who takes the lead. Her clash of desires, between wanting to start a fresh life and her family loyalties to save her father, is real.
    The heist and the mystery of the real thief is the center of the book. There is a budding romance between Hale and Kat, which I really hope progresses because they genuinely care for one another and are perfect for one another! There were some fun twist and turns that I didn't see coming in the story. There were also lots of moments where I laughed out loud. One moment in particular where Kat appears for the first to the guys in her crew as a true female. A great choice for a light, smart, funny, and clean mystery. I really hope there is a sequel because the book ends with a cliffhanger. I'm not surprised that Warner Brothers has already picked up the rights for this book. You read the Variety article here.
  
Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are threats of violence, but nothing really takes place. A good, clean mystery novel with a great mischievous, smart cast of characters. I would have no hesitations in recommending it to 6th grade and up.

If you like this book, try: I'd Love to Tell You, But Then I'll Have to Kill You by Ally Carter or Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

   Ancient Egypt is taught in so many social studies classes. I can easily recall learning about the Egyptian gods as well as the documentaries I remember watching in class. What better way to refresh your memory and learn something new then by reading a great book? The Red Pyramid is the first book in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles. Just like his previous, blockbuster series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Riordan delivers another great series that effectively combines mythology, humor, and adventure.

Description: Since their mother’s death, Sadie Kane has lived in London with her maternal grandparents while her older brother, Carter, has traveled the world with their father, Julius Kane, a renowned African American Egyptologist. In London on Christmas Eve for a rare family get together, Carter and Sadie accompany their dad to the British Museum, where he blows up the Rosetta Stone and summons an Egyptian god. Unleashed, the vengeful god overpowers and entombs Julius, but Sadie and Carter manage to escape. Initially determined to rescue their father, but as they begin to understand their hidden magical powers and family secrets, they must take on the ancient forces bent on destroying mankind.

Review: The Red Pyramid has everything that I loved about the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: a great cast of characters, a great adventure story, and humor all woven together with a complex layer of mythology. You are learning about the myths without the boring context of a textbook and you are witnessing the story first hand. The first-person narrative shifts between Carter and Sadie, which not only gives the novel a balanced presence of both genders, but also an interesting dual perspective on how both were raised. The reader is also able to witness the tension between the two siblings who are more like strangers at the beginning of the story. The chapters are short and hilariously titled. The plot is fast pacing right from the start. The story arc is complex and deals more with issues of family, loyalty, and courage. I did, however, have to slow down my reading pace a bit trying to grasp the Ancient Egyptian mythology because I'm not well versed in it, but nonetheless I did learn something new. The Red Pyramid is sure to satisfy fans of the Percy Jackson series and I look forward to reading more about this series. The second book is expected to come out Spring 2010.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Curriculum Connection: Social Studies, English
Words of Caution: There are some scary, fantasy violence that is PG rated. I think this book is appropriate for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book, try:  The Ankh of Isis by Christine Norris

  If you walk through any school's busy hallway, you will be sure to find students yelling over one another and layers of conversations all going on the same time. Educators are always looking for new ways to keep students to mind the noise zone. Librarians are stereotypical known as the "Shushers" who can't seem to handle chatter of any kind. Personally, students chatting doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't interfere with others learning and I am not able to hear every detail of the conversation while sitting at my desk. No Talking by Andrew Clements is a pipe dream of a frazzled teacher. In an ideal world students are able to recognize that they are, well, a little bit loud and correct the problem on their own. While this may seem impossible, we can live in this world vicariously through this book.

Description: While doing a class report on India, Dave learned that Mahatma Gandhi habitually spent one day a week not talking in order to center his mind, Dave decides to try that out. He is successful until lunchtime, where he is engaged in a shouting match with fellow fifth-grader Lynsey. Soon the no talking effort moves from a solo effort to a full blown, two-day zipped-lip contest between the whole grade's infamously noisy boys and girls. Who will win?

Review: Clements has a knack for writing a theme driven novel that is not only funny, but also lays down a "lesson" in the story. While the students are no longer talking, they are still able to communicate by writing down words, speaking in only three word answers given to teachers (which are often very funny moments in the book). Students not only see the difference between how they communicate, but also tend to appreciate the value of talking i.e. not talking when it is not necessary. The plot, though not realistic, is interesting and fast moving. The author includes viewpoints from students as well as teachers. The illustrations by Mark Elliott are lively and add immediacy to the story. Overall, a clean and feel good story for children. This would be a good selection for a classroom or book club discussion.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution:  None.

If you like this book, try: Frindle or Lost and Found by Andrew Clements