Reading Abounds

Title:  Liesl & Po Author:  Lauren Oliver Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 71661 Description:    A mix-up involving the greatest magic in the world has tremendous consequences for Liesl, an orphan who has been locked in an attic, Will, an alchemist's runaway apprentice, and Po, a ghost, as they are pursued by friend and foe while making an important journey. Rubric Rating:  Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It:   Read the Delirium Series by this author and thought I would try this stand alone title. Notes:   An intricately connected novel, with a wide cast of interesting characters.  Liesl, after the death of her father, has been relegated by her horrible step-mother to a room in the attic (very reminiscent of many fairytales).  There she meets the ghosts of Po and Bundle. They are drawn to Liesl literally by her drawings. Po becomes the go between for Liesl and the otherside.  Meanwhile, Will, the magicians apprentice ...

Title:  Beholding Bee Author:  Kimberly Newton Fusco Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 107760 Description:    In 1942, when life turns sour at the carnival that has always been her home, eleven-year-old Bee takes her dog, Peabody, and piglet, Cordelia, and sets out to find a real home, aided by two women only Bee and her pets can see. Rubric Rating:  Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It:   Interesting title and write up Notes:   This book was a very slow start for me.  Bee, short for Beatrice, has been an orphan since the age of four.  Since the death of her parents in a car accident she has been living and working with Pauline in Ellis’ traveling circus.  Bee is now eleven years old and while she only works in the hotdog stand Ellis wants to put her in the show because of her “diamond”.  The port wine stain birthmark that is on her face. Her diamond draws the attention of everyone who see her so Bee uses her hair as a sh...

Title: Doctor Sleep Author: Stephen King Series: Sequel to The Shining Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 94803 Description:   After decades as an itinerant alcoholic, middle-aged Dan Torrance uses his remnant powers to assist the dying before coming to the aid of a twelve-year-old girl being tortured by a tribe of murderous paranormals. Contains Mature Material Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It: I loved the Shining and I'm a fan of Stephen King. Notes:    Danny Torrance has all grown up and he’s more like his father than he would like to admit.   Alcohol has a good way of dimming the shine but it leads him down paths he can’t ever return from, along with the ghosts from the overlook hotel he’s now haunted by memories.   Events from his past that he cannot change but somehow needs to learn to live with.   But w ith the help of some new friends, one in particular that has a hint of the shine as well, he gets himself straightened up ...

Title:  The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall Author: Katie Alender Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 128177 Description: Sixteen-year-old Cordelia and her family move into the house they just inherited in Pennsylvania, a former insane asylum the locals call Hysteria Hall, unfortunately, the house does not want defiant girls like Delia, so it kills her, and as she wanders the house, meeting the other ghosts and learning the dark secrets of the Hall, she realizes that she has to find a way to save her sister, parents, and perhaps herself. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It:  The title. Notes:   I chose this book based strictly on the title.   I love ghost and horror stories and this book did not disappoint.   Delia and her family are off to spend the summer in the home she has inherited from her namesake – Cordelia Piven.   What they don’t realize is that the home is actually a former asylum for troubled women known locally as hysteria hall. ...

Title:  Mortal Danger Author: Ann Aguirre Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 87780 Description: Agreeing to join the mysterious Kian's magical faction to exact revenge on a group of bullies who have tormented her, Edie transforms into a beautiful girl and begins to sabotage the bullies' inner circle -- only to discover dark truths about Kian's world. Rubric Rating: Level 2 Why I Read It: Great Cover and Title Lori's Notes: Now I know I gave this a level 2 but if I did half marks this book would be sitting between a two and a three.  I enjoyed the read but I found some items fell flat with me.  The book begins with Edie on a bridge about to commit suicide.  On the cusp of jumping she feels a hand on her shoulder.  A boy, who, because she is in "extremis," can offer her a deal.  She can be granted three requests and in return must give three for the bargain to be paid in full.  Considering her other option is going back to the bridge, Edie is easil...

Series:  The Midnighters Trilogy Author: Scott Westerfeld Perma-Bound Catalogue Series #: 792968 Titles:  Book 1 - The Secret Hour Description:   Upon moving to Bixby, Oklahoma, fifteen-year-old Jessica Day learns that she is one of a group of people who have special abilities that help them fight ancient creatures living in an hour hidden at midnight; creatures that seem determined to destroy Jess. Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 263910 Book 2 - Touching Darkness Description:  As they continue to battle evil creatures living in an hour hidden at midnight, Jessica and her new friends learn about Bixby, Oklahoma's shadowy past and uncover a deadly conspiracy that reaches beyond the secret hour. Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 1796 Book 3 - Blue Noon Description:   The five midnighters from Bixby discover that the secret hour is starting to invade the daylight world, and if they cannot stop it, the darklings will soon be free to hu...

Title: The Wager Author: Donna Jo Napoli Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 44190 Description: Having lost everything in a tidal wave in 1169 Sicily, nineteen-year-old Don Giovanni makes a simple-sounding wager with a stranger he recognizes as the devil but, while desperate enough to surrender his pride and good looks for three years, he is not willing to give up his soul. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: The cover and write up made the story sound interesting.  I have also read other titles by Donna Jo Napoli. Lori's Notes: Don Giovanni is a rich youth in Italy until Mt. Etna erupts and a tsunami swamps the town of Messina where he lives.  Calling on his friends and guardian, Giovanni learns he has spent through all of his inheritance.  Living like a beggar he runs into a man who makes a wager with him.  Giovanni will be given a magic purse if he does not wash or change his clothes for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days.  Giovanni learns the valu...

Title: Breaking Dawn Series: Twilight Saga Book 4 Author: Stephanie Meyer Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 27392 Description: Although eighteen-year-old Bella joins the dark but seductive world of the immortals by marrying Edward the vampire, her connection to the powerful werewolf Jacob remains. Rubric Rating: Level 1 - Leave It Why I Read It: I admit, I haven't read the other books in the series.  I started with the last book because I had seen the movies and wanted to find out what happened at the end of the novels.  (I was not a fan of the movies either but thought I should at least give one of the books a try). Lori's Notes: Bella and Edward get married and Bella gets pregnant.  Their daughter, Renesmee, is a mix between human and vampire. Jacob imprints on her giving her the protection of the entire pack.  When the Voltari come for Renesmee the vampires "witness" that she is not a forbidden (a vampire child) but a hybrid who will age and not be a danger...

Title: Tuck Everlasting Author: Natalie Babbit Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 307191 Description: The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It!  This is one of my all-time favourite books. Why I Read It: I first read this book when I was about 10 or 11 years old and I loved it.  I re-read it every now and again. Lori's Notes: I really enjoy this book and it's one of those stories that I can read again and again.  I am fascinated by the Tuck family and the idea of immortality.  Who hasn't wanted to live forever?  Not only are the Tuck's immortal but they are also ever youthful, never growing older and never changing. Jesse Tuck is stuck at 17 wandering the world with his parents and brother.  That is until he meets lonely Winnie Foster.  An on...

Title: Paper Valentine Author: Brenna Yovanoff Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 67784 Description: Followed everywhere by the ghost of her recently deceased best friend, Hannah investigates the serial murders of young girls in her community. Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud It Why I read it: I have to admit it was all the cover art that drew me into this novel. Lori's Notes:  Hannah is still dealing with the death of her best friend Lillian.  Which would be difficult anyway, except Lillian keeps haunting her.  Showing up in her bedroom, sitting on the tv, following her around town.  It's very hard for Hannah to sort out her feelings while Lillian continuously runs commentary on her entire life.  Worse, there is a serial killer in Ludlow, killing girls in the community, meaning Hannah and her little sister Ariel could be in danger.   When the ghosts of the dead girls start appearing to Hannah, giving her clues to their murder, Hannah has no choice but to g...

Title:  Malice Series: Malice Author: Chris Wooding Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 48546 Description: Fans Luke, Seth, and Kady have read all about the sinister world in which the villainous Tall Jake resides, but they learn more about it than they ever wanted when they are suddenly pulled into the pages of their comic book. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It Why I Read It: I liked how this novel interspersed chapter reading with graphic novel elements.  I also like stories about urban legends and Tall Jake on the cover drew me in! Lori's Notes: When Luke disappears, Seth and Kady discover it has everything to do with the strange Comic Malice.  By calling on "Tall Jake" kids are being abducted into the comic book world and their harrowing adventures are found in the next issue.  An extremely exciting adventure read, the kids are smart, wily, daring (if not a little reckless), and brave. Meeting Justin in the world of Malice the three decide they must take o...

Title: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story Author: Adam Rex Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 44352 Description: After being bitten by a vampire, not only is fifteen-year-old Doug doomed eternally to be fat, but now he must also save himself from the desperate host of a public-access-cable vampire-hunting television show that is on the verge of cancellation. Rubric Rating: Level 1: Leave It Why I Read It: This was all title and cover.  I thought the cover image was fabulous and I was piqued by the humour of the title. Lori's Notes:  Doug is a vampire.  But he isn't the typically good-looking, mesmerizing, adaptable vampire.  He's a socially awkward, geeky, fat vampire.  He is an overweight social misfit who just wants to fit in.  Becoming a vampire just further emphasizes how out of place he is at school and even within his own social group. Sejal, a foreign exchange student (and Doug's crush) exemplifies this same idea having been diagnosed as ...

Title: I Am Not a Serial Killer Series:  John Cleaver (Vol. 1) Author: Dan Wells Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 52522 Description: John Wayne Cleaver keeps his obsession with serial killers in check by a set of rigid rules  that he lives by, hoping to prevent himself from committing murder, but when a body turns up behind a laundromat, John must confront a danger outside himself. Rubric Rating: Level 1: Leave It Why I Read It: I'm a fan of mystery novels and this cover was intriguing. Lori's Notes: This book started out really well for me.  The story would have been fantastic and would have earned a level 3 if it hadn't strayed out of the realm of realism.  John Wayne is obsessed with serial killers and thinks he could be one.   He lives in a mortuary with his mother and helps out in preparing the bodies for the funerals.  The family is dysfunctional and I actually liked the dispassion of emotion from John.  He is amazingly cool and calculati...

Title:   The Graveyard Book Author:   Neil Gaiman  (Illustrations by Dave McKean) Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 27007 Description:   Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard. 2009 Newberry Award Winner 2009 Carnegie Medal Winner Rubric Rating:   Level 4: Love it Why I Read It: I read the first chapter of this novel while standing at a display and couldn't put it down.   Lori's Notes:  After his parents are murdered, "Nobody Owens" is raised in a graveyard by a curious lot of spectres.  You find three different types of character in this novel: the living, the dead, and the undead.  The archetypes of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves are inverted as they become the protectors of this young human boy.  They are not monsters to be feared but Nobody's "Honour Guard" his protectors, teachers, and friends.  The "man Jack", w...