2011+March

14 year old Sherlock is bored with school and gets caught up in the murder of a young woman. A young Egyptian boy has been arrested but Sherlock believes he is innocent. This is a complicated book with lots of deep feelings. The details are remarkable and pull you in to the upper and lower caste structure of London. Excellent. Quite violent. **The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh** A little slow at the start, but a terrific ending with an opening for more. Will is an orphan (of course…) who is living in a poor medieval abbey when he rescues a fey creature who is hurt. His heart is to help any creature, including the small hob who speaks to him. More strange characters begin to show up including Master Bone and his strange servant Shadlok. I'm a pushover for stories set in abbeys and with angels as part of the story. Really liked this by the end. 4th+ (one "bastard" and some violence but not excessive) **Choke by Obert Skye** Second after Pillage. Beck Pillage can't resist the possibility of hatching a new dragon. But it falls apart catastrophically. A strange White man, a nosy reporter, and his own father are complicating everything. Who to trust? Well, there's always Kate. No need to be YA even though the characters are 16 and have romantic feelings. Good. 5th+ **The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler** In the style of Shannon Hale's princess stories, this is rooted in knowledge of classic fairy tales. Zita has been banished to the kitchen even though all know she is a princess. Now her 12 sisters are suffering some strange malady and wearing out their shoes every night. Just the right amount of mystery and danger. And a tragic but satisfying conclusion. 4th+ **Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen** Three boys decide that their life is too boring and they must do something spectacular. Somehow every attempt ends up with the same one of them landing in something awful--usually some varient of "doody". The usual Paulsen ridiculousness. Fun. 3rd+ **Th e Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks** The close ( I think) of the story of Cadel vs Prosper English. Not as good as the earlier ones. Less action although the ending was certainly James Bond like. The love-hate thing was pretty moving. **Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L Holmes** It's 1935 and Turtle has to leave her mother working as a housekeeper and go to Key West to live with her aunt and Conch cousins. It's a big change, but Turtle is tough. Surprising adventures (treasure, getting lost on a tiny island, meeting lots of strange characters) and a terrific ending. I loved this one. Good 3rd grade readers can handle this. **Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka** Very funny. Michael K (of course there are 3 Michaels in his class) has just moved to a new school in fifth grade and is linked with the other two new kids, Jennifer and Bob and Major Fluffy the class hamster. They are mysterious aliens who believe Michael can Do Anything! It said that on a cereal box, so it must be true. Pretty silly of course. Lots of laughs and subtle inferences on advertising. (or not so subtle--why does toilet paper make bears happy??) **Summer Sanctuary by Laurie Gray** Matthew meets Dinah, who is homeless until her mother is released in a few weeks. He helps her find a sanctuary in his father's church building. Nice family story that takes the kindest of turns. Not your typical plot. Also makes homeschoolers look smart instead of weird for a change. Does address some sexual matters in an oblique way--Like Dinah in the Bible. Also the theory of relativity as it relates to God. 5th+ Dinah's poems are moving--p.189 Someone, Anyone--- I just want someone to care about me Someone who'll understand Someone who wants to listen Someone to be my friend Is there anyone who wants to love me? Anyone who will let me be-- Myself--whoever that is I only want to be me. **Winter Awakening by Dana Bell** Apparently a local author who self-published and donated to an elementary school. This is not elementary appropriate. It's supposed to be a futuristic look at North America in the next Ice Age when cats and wolves are the survivors. One clan tries to change the destiny of cats by learning to read and change the way males and females interact. Unfortunately, it reads like "the Sex Lives of Wild Cats". So many battles for rights to mate. So many litters born and babies sucking on "tits" (why not teats?). Sorry. This doesn't read well. I made it through six chapters and then flipped through the rest. Not good. **Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson** Melinda is starting ninth grade with a giant secret. Her response is to speak as little as possible. This is an excellent account of a year of dealing with depression, ostracism, and a broken spirit. There are actually moments of humor and normalcy, but the overarching damage caused by "It" runs through the story. Excellent. YA, but OK for middle school. **The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by RA Spratt** Hilarious. From the introduction of Nanny Piggins, a retired circus flying pig, through each chapter which is a new adventure, the humor is perfect. For example: "There are no limits to what a man will fail to notice." including a 10 dancing bear who left the circus because the audiences wanted modern dance instead of ballet. I love this. 4th+ **Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard** This reminded me a little of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Four friends, crazy stuff happening. But waaaay creepier. It's well written with great twists, but very incomplete. Left with a murder mystery, and lots of unresolved love. Lots of almost sex too. Sisterhood is better in that regards since it takes the experience more seriously. YA for everything: SVLD (sex, violence, language, dialog)
 * The Eye of the Crow (the Boy Sherlock Holmes) by Shane Peacock**