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Titanic 100th Anniversary Reading Challenge First Quarter

2012-03-31T23:59:00.001-04:00

Post your reviews here for January through March.

Sign up anytime HERE.

52. Diver Down by Donald Lemkie

2012-02-26T05:22:00.000-05:00

Diver Down by Donald Lemke. illustrated by Yonami (US) - (Canada)
Good vs Evil

Pages: 39
Ages: 10+
Finished: Feb. 13, 2012
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: children, graphic novel, easy reader, adventure, modern pirates
Rating: 4/5

First sentence: "What do you see?"

Publisher's Summary: "On a cloudless day, an American dive boat searches the Pacific Ocean for the remains of a sunken submarine and its mysterious cargo. However, they're not the only ones! When the SCUBA diver heads underwater, his loyal crewmate spots the flag of a threatening ship on the horizon. It's another dive team, and they'll stop at nothing capture the cargo and keep the sunken sub a secret."

Acquired: Purchased a new copy from an online retailer at my son's request. It is extremely rare that he asks for a book, so when he asked for the other two books in this series I purchased them for him.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

This easy-to-read series with a high interest level (written at RL 1.3, GRL: M for ages 8-12) brings a very unique interactive approach to graphic novels which I would honestly love to see more of in the future. The pages are split in half lengthwise, with one half being the good side of the story and the other the same story from the evil point of view. The stories do interact with each other and there are several ways to read the book. Read just the good side, read just the evil side, then read both sides consecutively to get the whole story at once. My ds loves this approach! He always must read the good side first and in this story I think that hindered us a bit, as we were left with a rather confusing little story, that ended rather strangely. Then reading the evil side certainly added a lot more information to the story we had been missing and we ended up with a chilling little ending reminiscent of "The Twilight Zone".

Ds really enjoyed this one and we had to go back and follow the good guy throughout the sequence as the only way to recognize the two once they had suited up was from an emblem on their dive suits, one blue (good guy) one red (bad guy). He is hoping Stone Arch will be adding more books to the series this year, but so far there is no sign of new titles. If new titles are added I hope they will be a bit more textual, as these first four tended towards a lot of wordless/sound effects panels and we'd like more dialogue to carry the story. Otherwise, yes please ... give us more "Good vs Evil!

50. Prisoners in the Promised Land by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

2012-02-25T08:57:00.001-05:00

Prisoners in the Promised Land: The Ukranian Internment Diary of Anya Soloniuk, Spirit Lake, Quebec, 1914 by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (US) - (Canada)
Dear Canada series

Pages: 243
Ages: 8+
Finished: Feb. 12, 2012
First Published: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Canada
Genre: children, historical fiction, war, WWI, Canadian author
Rating: 5/5

First sentence: Dear Diary, your soft cover is dancing-boot red and your pages are the colour of freshly churned butter.

Publisher's Summary: "Anya and her family have made a difficult journey to Canada in search of a new life. But soon after they arrive in the land they hoped would welcome them, World War I is declared, and Ukrainians are considered "enemy aliens" — many of them sent away to internment camps. Anya must find a way to deal with the challenges in the land she now calls home."

Acquired: Borrowed a copy from my local library.

Reason for Reading: I am reading this whole series. I picked this particular volume because I am participating in a WWI reading challenge.

I've only read a couple of Skrypuch's books so far, but she has become one of my favourite Canadian juvenile authors. Mostly, her historical fiction revolves in some way around Ukrainians as that is where her heritage comes from and her own family genealogy is always a great starting point. Skrypuch does write about other topics but this recurring theme is interesting as it is unique. Once again, I have learned something new from one of Marsha's books. I had no knowledge whatsoever of the Ukrainian internment camps in Canada during WWI; of course everybody knows of the Japanese ones during WWII but why not the earlier Ukrainian ones? Perhaps because they make very little sense at all from a political point of view.

This book is a fantastic read. While it takes place primarily in Canada, it does start with the boat trip to the new land, the WWI story is told through the newspapers and discussions of the Ukrainian people as they sit caught in the middle of this war. Their homeland is the battlefield in Eastern Europe for a long period of time and yet the Ukrainians are neither friends with the Austrians/Germans who own their land or the Russians who invade it. All news they hear is bad, because whether it is the Allies or the "enemy" winning on their homeland it means their people, friends, relatives are in danger and dying. Through the news the family receives and letters from home and friends across Canada, until letters are halted due to the War Measures Act, we get to see a side of WWI which I've never experienced before. All my WWI reading has been about the trench warfare in France/Germany. It was very different in Eastern Europe, especially there in Galicia, a Ukrainian area owned by Austria-Hungary, which became part of the USSR later on, and finally was reunited as part of present day Ukraine.

The Ukrainians were interred in camps mostly because Canadian/British citizens confused them with Austrians (the enemy) and were ignorant and intolerable of them living within their society. Anya's mother and father loose their jobs for "patriotic" reasons. She leaves school to work for the family, but eventually after the men are taken away to camps the women share rat-infested flats, have very little to eat, are not safe on the streets on their own, and are exposed to all sorts of vile, racist comments, making life a living hell. When the family is moved to the internment camp in some ways life is better for them: they are together again as a family, it's cleaner, they have nicer living quarters, are fed, don't face as much of the racism, etc. but it is a prison and therefore they have lost their freedom. Another compelling page-turner for me as we get to learn about the war in Eastern Europe, life for the Ukrainian immigrants on the homefront, and finally life inside the internment camps. Very interesting and new-to-me information. As usual the Epilogue in these books describes what happened to the characters afterwards and the Historical Note is a goldmine of true facts. These are always my favourite part of the books in this series along with the contemporary photographs in the back. This is one of my favourites in the Dear Canada series so far. And I would love to read more on this topic.

49: Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor

2012-02-24T05:25:00.000-05:00

Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor (US) - (Canada)
Olympians, Book 4

Pages: 77
Ages: 9+
Finished: Feb. 12, 2012
First Published: Jan. 31, 2012
Publisher: First Second Books
Genre: children, graphic novel, mythology
Rating: 4/5

First sentence: This is what happens to you when you die.

Publisher's Summary: "Hades: Lord of the Dead tells the story of the great God of the Underworld and one of the most famous of all Greek myths: Hades’ abduction of Persephone and her mother’s revenge. Be prepared to see a new side of Persephone in this dynamic adaptation of the story of the creation of the seasons."

Acquired: Received a review copy from First Second Books.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

What a long wait it has been for the fourth volume in this series! Another great entry in the series with fabulous artwork. O'Connor's depictions of Persephone are fantastic, picturing her in a unique Goth style which seems quite appropriate for the Queen of the Dead. While the book is titled Hades, it really tells the story of Persephone and to a lesser degree Demeter which is a twist on the usual telling of this tale which focuses on Demeter and how the seasons came to be in most retellings. O'Connor has taken licence and retold the story addressing Persephone's feelings, attitude and actions which are usually not referred to. This makes for a refreshing story for someone familiar with the tale and adds a fun twist to the myth. I'm not sure I totally agree with this take on the tale, as I've always related to Demeter in this myth (must be my maternal instincts) but since the intended audience is children I think it is a great new view to an old tale that kids will relate to.

Some of my favourite things about this series is the author's note, the portrait pages and the detailed "Notes" at the back. This is full of quite scholarly information about not just the particular myth but many aspects of Greek mythology and a treasure trove of interesting tidbits and even a veteran reader will learn a new fact or two! I can't find any references to what the next book will be, but I'm sure at one point I heard it was going to be on Poseidon. Whatever it is I just hate having to wait a year between volumes :(

48. Judge Anderson: The Psychic Crime Files by Alan Grant

2012-02-23T05:49:00.001-05:00

Judge Anderson: The Psychic Crime Files by Alan Grant. Art by Carlos Ezquerra, Trevor Hairsine, Patrick Goddard & Boo Cook (US) - (Canada)
Judge Dredd series

Pages: 192
Ages: 16+
Finished: Feb. 10, 2012
First Published: Jan. 17, 2012
Publisher: 2000AD
Genre: YA, graphic novel, science fiction
Rating: 5/5

First sentence: If it's a one, three or five, I marry Della, move to the West Sector's and live happy ever after.

Publisher's Summary: "Mega-City One, a futuristic metropolis sprawling across the east coast of North America. This hostile urban nightmare is policed by the Judges; tough lawmen with the ability to act as judge, jury and executioner. Within the Justice department is a section known as Psi-Division which specialises in Judges gifted with extraordinary psychic abilities. Cassandra Anderson is one such Judge; a powerful telepath with a rebellious streak and a talent for getting into trouble..."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: When relatives visited us from England, I'd always get an Annual and a few related comics. One year, when I was a teenager in the '80s someone, probably my Uncle Peter, brought me a 2000AD annual and some Judge Dredd comics. Well I just loved them and literally read them to pieces and that is the extent of my knowledge of this comic universe. But when I happened upon the trade collections recently I was excited to dip my toe back in and thought this stand-alone volume would be a great introduction.

I loved this book! Judge Cassandra Anderson is drawn after '80s singer Debbie Harry, most commonly known as the lead singer for the group Blondie. She is one awesome female futuristic crime fighting sensation with added psychic abilities. She can read people's minds, gets psychic flashes of what is about to happen and can read the last memories from the mind of a dead body.

This book collects seven random stories from 1989 to 2011 written by Alan Grant from the various 2000AD publications set in the Mega-City universe. They vary in length, style and time period but they all feature Judge Anderson working a PSI case. These stories are very futuristic and while the artists vary, the artwork is always really "out there" amazing. There is violence, blood and quite graphic scenes but no nudity or s*xual scenes. I found all the stories to be exciting, some more than others, but I enjoyed every one. While Mega-City is definitely science fiction, one story did bring magic and the paranormal into the universe and it seemed to fit in well. Being a new comer to this world, I found the stories perfectly suitable and entertaining, not requiring me to have any previous knowledge. There is a brief one page introduction to the character which nicely gives some historical background, but it's more for fans than a primer.

The stories briefly are "The Random Man" about a man who has given up on decision-making and become a "chancer" where everything he does in life is based on the roll of a die. Only this guy has made 6 a murderous number and is on a spree. "Lawless" is about a criminal who creates havoc in the city because he is fed-up with the system and the crime. Feelings Anderson can't help but agree with. "Wiierd" takes place in a virtual reality centre where one million people live full-time and ten million visit for vacations and weekends each year. People die natural deaths here all the time but Cassandra is called in when they have a murderer running rampant in the system. "Biophyle" is the term used for a person who thinks that all living life, animal and plant, is viable and deserves love and respect ... except human life. While chasing down another criminal Judge A. stumbles upon a biophyle who has a terrorist plan ready for action. "The House of Vyle" brings the paranormal to Mega-City as Cassandra travels to Sector 108, Salem, Massachusetts where a dead man resurrected to kill another man and the Judge sent to work the case killed three people and gorged their blood until she exploded. What Cassandra runs into leads her to another case which involves a man named Vyle, who has been missing in his own home for a year. Finally, the book ends with two stories which take us back to Anderson's Cadet training. In the first one she is just beginning her training at ten years old and in the second she is a teen cadet, one year away from graduation. Both of these stories are probably the best in the book as they give much wanted insight into the character we've just read the exciting exploits of in the five previous stories.

Looking forward to my next journey into the "Judge Dredd" universe.

47. All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann

2012-02-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann (US) - (Canada) - (Kindle)

Pages: 274
Ages: 18+
Finished: Feb. 10, 2012
First Published: Apr. 1, 2011
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Genre: historical fiction, southern fiction, slavery
Rating: 5/5

First sentence: Mama always told me bad things happen on Wednesdays, 'cause it's the middle of the week and the Lord just ain't looking then.

Publisher's Summary: "A free woman of color in the 1830s, Margaret Morgan lived a life full of promise. One frigid night in Pennsylvania, that changed forever. They tore her family apart. They put her in chains. They never expected her to fight back.

In 1837, Margaret Morgan was kidnapped from her home in Pennsylvania and sold into slavery. The state of Pennsylvania charged her kidnapper with the crime, but the conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was the first time a major branch of the federal government had made a pro-slavery stand, and the ruling in Prigg v. Pennsylvania sewed the bitter seeds of the states' rights battle that eventually would lead to the Civil War.

Yet, the heart of this story is not a historic Supreme Court ruling. It is the remarkable, unforgettable Margaret Morgan. Her life would never be the same. Her family had been torn apart. Uncaring forces abused her body and her heart. But she refused to give up, refused to stop fighting, refused to allow her soul to be enslaved."

Acquired: Received an egalley through NetGalley.

Reason for Reading: I love historical fiction set in this time period about this subject.

A magnificent, heart-felt, compelling read. I just loved this book. What an unimaginably brutal, yet inspiring story. A woman's life is torn apart; she is put into bondage and yet she continues to keep her spirit free and full of hope. What is most surprising about this story is that the main character actually existed, though very little is known about her. The author has given this important though obscure historical figure a chance to have her story known and given her a possible life she may have lead. If this is not exactly how she lead her life, it certainly was the lot of many a "Negro" woman and her family in the early 1800's in America's dark past. Margaret is a riveting character whom one connects with right from the beginning. The cast of secondary characters are also vividly portrayed. The bounty hunter, Prigg, sums up all the evil and prejudice of the times in one person, making him a very disturbing character.
This was a page-turner for me. The historical aspect was appreciated for its relative obscurity. But mostly it was a story that hit my heart and while nothing surprising happens plot-wise, I was invested in the characters and deeply satisfied with the ending.

46. Brundibar by Tony Kushner & Maurice Sendak

2012-02-21T05:02:00.000-05:00

Brundibar: after the opera by Hans Krasa and Adolf Hoffmeister retold by Tony Kushner. Pictures by Maurice Sendak (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 54
Ages: ALL AGES
Finished: Feb. 10, 2012
First Published: 2003
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Genre: Picture Book, Opera, Fairy Tale, WWII
Rating: 5/5

First sentence: "I am Pepicek, very small"

Publisher's Summary: "When Aninku and Pepicek discover one morning that their mother is sick, they rush to town for milk to make her better. Their attempt to earn money by singing is thwarted by a bullying, bellowing hurdy-gurdy grinder, Brundibar, who tyrannizes the town square and chases all other street musicians away. Befriended by three intelligent talking animals and three hundred helpful schoolkids, brother and sister sing for the money to buy the milk, defeat the bully, and triumphantly return home. Brundibar is based on a Czech opera for children that was performed fifty-five times by the children of Terezin, the Nazi concentration camp"

Acquired: Purchased used from the library sale table.

Reason for Reading: I pick up Maurice Sendak books simply because I love his illustrations, though I prefer the non-monster stuff. When I got home and read the story behind this picture book I was greatly intrigued.

This book can be read on two levels. One simply read the cute, fun story about children winning over a bully to young children. There are a few frightening scenes and the story ends on an uncomfortable note but most children should get a shiver and a giggle from the story.

On the second level what we have here is a very deep, symbolic rendering of the Holocaust in picture book format. Have older children read the jacket flaps, look up the story behind this opera and deal with the sad reality of where this story came from. Then read the story and look carefully at the pictures because Sendak has used a lot of symbolism and hidden small images some of which may have only meaning to him. I would love to read a critical essay on the illustrations of this book. Some characters in the town have yellow Stars of David sewn to their chests, others have yellow arm bands, there are Stars of David in the occasional window and in the background we can occasionally see crosses on top of church steeples. The authority figures have an arm raised as if in a "heil", they also often have a leg poised as if ready to march goose step. The villain Brundibar has a Hitler mustache and his organ grinder monkey is wearing a German helmet. The Dr. is distinctly portrayed as Jewish and the final scene shows the mother's bedroom with a crucifix on the wall where there clearly wasn't one in the opening scene. Also if you look closely you'll find the names of the composers written on the wall within the pages and every here and there is a haunting shadowy image of a tattered child in the background. I could go on ...

All this to say, this picture book left me feeling sad for the fate of those who wrote and preformed this opera and also for the message that while we can beat bullies when we come together, there will unfortunately always be another one around another corner. Yet at the same time I was boosted by the spirit of the real people who lived (really *lived*) while they were dying in those horrifying concentration camps. This book is a classic and should not be forgotten. Thanks to Hyperion for keeping it in print. While a picture book, it would make a great addition to middle/high school courses on WWII.

45. Dungeon of Seven Dooms by Michael Dahl

2012-02-20T06:26:00.000-05:00

Dungeon of Seven Dooms by Michael Dahl. illustrated by Roberta Pares (US) - (Canada)
Good vs Evil

Pages: 39
Ages: 8+
Finished: Feb. 8, 2012
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: children, graphic novel, easy reader, fantasy
Rating: 3/5

First sentence: In an ancient kingdom of light and shadow, on the night of the Dragon's Star, Prince Kalban imprisons his twin brother, the rightful heir to the throne.

Publisher's Summary: "Young Prince Arel has been imprisoned by his evil brother, Prince Kalban, who seeks to steal the throne. Arel must use his wits and his sword arm to battle through the monstrous traps of the Dungeon of the Seven Dooms in order to rescue his father and save the kingdom."

Acquired: Purchased a new copy from an online retailer at my son's request. It is extremely rare that he asks for a book, so when he asked for the other two books in this series I purchased them for him.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

This easy-to-read series with a high interest level (written at RL 1.3, GRL: M for ages 8-12) brings a very unique interactive approach to graphic novels which I would honestly love to see more of in the future. The pages are split in half horizontally, with one half being the good side of the story and the other the same story from the evil point of view. The stories do interact with each other and there are several ways to read the book. Read just the good side, read just the evil side, then read both sides consecutively to get the whole story at once. My ds loves this approach! He always must read the good side first and in this story I think that hindered us a bit, as we were left with a rather confusing little story, that ended rather strangely. Then reading the evil side certainly added a lot more information to the story we had been missing but I must say we still ended up with a strange story which neither of us is sure whether it crossed over into an alternate dimension. However ds enjoyed reading it and is looking forward to the last book. He is hoping Stone Arch will be adding more books to the series this year, but so far there is no sign of new titles.

44. X 3-in-1, Vol.I by CLAMP

2012-02-19T05:38:00.000-05:00

X (3-in-1), Vol. I by CLAMP (US) - (Canada)
X, Vol. 1,2,3

Pages: 584
Ages: 16+
Finished: Feb. 8, 2012
First Published: 1992-93 (this edition Nov. 8, 2011)
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, fantasy, apocalyptic
Rating: 3/5

First sentence: "It's been six years."

Publisher's Summary: "Kamui Shiro is a young man followed by mystery. Taken from Tokyo by his mother when only a child, Kamui left behind his dearest friends—the gentle Kotori and her brother Fuma—in the aftermath of a terrible incident that claimed their mother's life.

Returning to Tokyo after his mother's death, Kamui is a changed young man—moody and distant to his old friends, yet determined to protect them from the dark forces that swirl around him. For he is the nexus of a great cataclysm to come, and inheritor to a strange destiny that could decide the fate of the entire world."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: The story sounded fantastic; I've never read a series by Clamp before and have wanted to, plus I love these omnibus editions of manga that viz is putting out.

Fantastic art! Especially since this is "old school" manga art to me (I'm a fairly recent reader of the medium). Just gorgeous details and expressive faces. Each volume inside starts with several full colour pages including the original cover art work. Another thing I love (that slightly surprised me for the early '90s art) is that the boys/men look like guys. I really like this in manga. They all have short hair and there is no mistaking the boys from the girls, who are extremely feminine. I also enjoyed the realistic eye shapes, instead of the constant round eyes.
As to the story, not quite so fantastic, but interesting. My main problem is that it is very confusing and I am very glad I got to start with the first three volumes. If I'd only read volume one, I wouldn't have been very excited to go any further as it left me quite dazed. These first three volumes, slowly let the story out of the bag. All the characters, minus Kotori, know to some extent what is going on. Some have full knowledge, others only a brief understanding, but the reader knows nothing until it is revealed by some character on the page. This makes for a mysterious, yet baffling read. And it does take the three entire volumes for the reader to get a grip on what is happening. The ending has left me hanging and my interest piqued but right now, I'm not ready to say I'm hooked. I am interested but it is going to take the next volume for me to decide if this is a series I'll be staying with. I can say with certainty that I am fully intrigued by all the characters at this point and do look forward to seeing if Vol. 2 (which will include the original volumes 4-6) will hook me on this possibly fascinating series.

43. Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon

2012-02-18T05:33:00.000-05:00

Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon (US) - (Canada) - (Kindle)
Dragonbreath, #6

Pages: 208
Ages: 8+
Finished: Feb. 7, 2012
First Published: Jan. 10, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books
Genre: children, fantasy, graphic novel hybrid
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

Sheriff Dragonbreath entered the canyon with his six-gun in his hand.

Publisher's Summary: "Ride 'em, cowboy! Danny's off to summer camp! Danny Dragonbreath is counting down the days to his awesome western summer camp . . . until he gets the terrible news that his annoying younger cousin Spencer is going too. Good-bye, Danny the Cowboy; Hello, Danny the Babysitter. But when Spencer befriends a mythical jackalope (or horned bunny) and then uncovers a diabolical jackalope-napping ring, things start looking up again. After all, if you need a math problem solved, you call a nerd. But if you need a villainous ring of horned-bunnynappers broken up, you call Danny Dragonbreath."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Penguin Group Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

This is certainly the most well-written story in the Dragonbreath series to date. We have a complete developed plot, with adult antagonists, that progresses following conventional plotlines. The book actually involves a mystery that is solvable by the reader if they pay attention to the clues given out along the way. Danny and Wendell have become bonafide complete characters with their background stories built up over the last several volumes to create two very good, but opposite best friends. The reader can count on how each will act in certain situations and we know their strengths and weaknesses, but also knowing, more than they do, that their friendship is stronger than the sum of their parts, proving they can overcome obstacles for each other. This strong friendship, at this time in the series, welcomes the addition of Christiana as a third member of the team, having met her in the last book. Her character is given some good development to allow some interplay between both Danny and Wendell as well as a bit of a background story. We are also, once again, introduced to a new relative of Danny's only this time it is a younger cousin, but it does bring back the recurring theme of the previous books where Danny visits a relative, only this time the relative visits him.

A solid plot and a good story, though lacking a little in the humour department. I didn't find this one near as funny as the others, perhaps because it was more serious when the antagonists are adults (mind you, still animals) and the victims are cute animals, even if they are mythological jackalopes. There were funny scenes and lines but on the whole more of an adventurous frolic than the simple humorous story of the previous volumes. A solid entry in the series.

42. Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon

2012-02-17T08:04:00.000-05:00

Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon. illustrated by Tony Ross. (US) - (Canada) - (Kindle)
Horrid Henry (US numbering #9)

Pages: 112
Ages: 7+
Finished: Feb. 6, 2012
First Published: UK 2003 (US 2009)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: children, humour, short stories
Rating: 4/5

First sentence: "Ugggh! Gross! Yuck! Blecccccch!"

Publisher's Summary: "Horrid Henry makes a deal with his parents in return for eating his veggies; accidentally wears girls' underwear to school; tries to prove he is sicker than his brother; and writes the meanest thank-you cards ever (and makes money on it too)."

Acquired: Purchased the Kindle edition.

Reason for Reading: Our son has reading difficulties and after much debate the family bought an ereader. Ds read this book aloud as his reader and as his very first ebook. Horrid Henry is a favourite of his.

This book was exactly what one expects from Horrid Henry. After having read only the first book in the series ds and I are both fans. Reading this book further along in the series we found two things had changed, Henry has gotten somewhat meaner *but* he usually ends up with the short end of the stick when all is said and done, which makes his escapades easier to swallow when you know he won't totally get away with it. Ds finds Harry funny and is continuously going "Oh Man!" with the things he gets up to but ds also thinks Henry is a bit too much and takes things too far. He wouldn't like to have him in his class, that is for sure! We both really enjoyed all the stories in this book and we agree upon our favourite being the titular one where he accidentally wears girl's underwear to school.

This book was very hard for ds to read, so we read pretty much in tandem with me reading any words he struggled with to avoid frustration as he thoroughly enjoyed the ebook reading experience and took to it like a fish to water. He says he wants all his books on the Kindle now. Well that isn't going to exactly happen but we are going to take advantage of this format and see if it is the thing that will set off his reading abilities.

41. The Missing Mummy by Sean O'Reilly

2012-02-16T06:35:00.000-05:00

The Missing Mummy by Sean O'Reilly. Illustrated by Arcana Studio. (US) - (Canada)
Mighty Mighty Monsters

Pages: 43
Ages: 7+
Finished: Feb. 6, 2012
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: children, easy reader, graphic novel, fantasy, Canadian author
Rating: 4/5

First sentence: Early one morning, the Mighty Mighty monsters loaded on to the bus for a field trip.

Publisher's Summary: "The Mighty Mighty Monsters are going on a field trip to the museum in the city. Like most of their outings, things get a little crazy. They meet a mummy who comes to life. Using their 'Monster Might,' they help him break out of the museum and take him back to Transylmania."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I think this series is adorable.

An easy reader graphic novel about famous movie monsters when they were kids and went to school together. This time the kids are outside of school again but now on a teacher supervised field trip to a museum and this is where they pick up a new member to bring back to town with them, The Mummy. Happily enough, we get King Tut's mummy and learn some very brief ancient Egypt/Tutankhamen history at the same time. But really the story is just fun and full of gags I enjoy this series probably because I am a Universal Monsters movie buff and find these satisfy the nerd in me. O'Reilly's story is cute and fun as usual with this series suitable for Grades 1-4 and reluctant readers being at a Guided Reading Level K. Scott's Arcana Studios do a magnificent job on the animation quality illustrations. One of the more fun in the series, especially for Mummy fans.

40. Monster Beach by Sean O'Reilly

2012-02-14T06:40:00.000-05:00

Monster Beach by Sean O'Reilly. Illustrated by Arcana Studio. (US) - (Canada)
Mighty Mighty Monsters

Pages: 43
Ages: 7+; GRL: K
Finished: Feb. 5, 2012
First Published: Jan. 13, 2012
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: children, graphic novel, paranormal, Canadian author
Rating: 4/5

First sentence: "Early one morning, the Mighty Mighty Monsters headed out for a relaxing day at the beach."

Publisher's Summary: "The monsters are ready for a relaxing day at the beach. However, the day is anything but relaxing! The group meets a young, lonely fish monster named Gill who is scared of the water. They help Gill find the confidence he needs to go into the ocean and find his family"

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I think this series is adorable.

An easy reader graphic novel about famous movie monsters when they were kids and went to school together. This time the kids have a day off and head for the beach where they meet Gilliver Finn, Gil to his friends, who would later become known as The Creature From then Black Lagoon. Anyway, he's afraid of the water, the ocean and fish all together so his new found friends help him to over come his fears and he ends up being not so lonely anymore. O'Reilly's story is cute and fun as usual with this series suitable for Grades 1-4 and reluctant readers being at a Guided Reading Level K. Scott's Arcana Studios do a magnificent job on the animation quality illustrations. Not my favourite in the series but still a fun read.

Free! Glaen: A Novel Message on Romance, Love and Relating

2012-02-13T15:43:00.001-05:00

Free for a limited time only! Get yours before the end of Feb. 14. Make sure the price says $.0.00 before you order as it could change at anytime on the 14th.

14. Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Mary M. Talbot

2012-02-13T11:55:00.000-05:00

Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Mary M. Talbot. Art by Bryan Talbot (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 96
Ages: 18+
Finished: Jan. 14, 2012
First Published: Feb. 21. 2012
Publisher: Dark Horse
Genre: Graphic Novel, memoir, biography, history
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Now where's that railcard?

Publisher's Summary: "Part personal history, part biography, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes contrasts two coming-of-age narratives: that of Lucia, the daughter of James Joyce, and that of author Mary Talbot, daughter of the eminent Joycean scholar James S. Atherton. Social expectations and gender politics, thwarted ambitions and personal tragedy are played out against two contrasting historical backgrounds, poignantly evoked by the atmospheric visual storytelling of award-winning graphic-novel pioneer Bryan Talbot. Produced through an intense collaboration seldom seen between writers and artists, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes is smart, funny, and sad--an essential addition to the evolving genre of graphic memoir."

Acquired: Received an egalley from the publisher through Net Galley..

Reason for Reading: I am a big fan of graphic memoirs and biographies.

A totally engaging story about two female figures, each with their own claim to fame, and yet not readily recognizable to the world at large. The book is a mixture of b/w when telling the story of Lucia Joyce (James Joyce's daughter), b/w with bits of colour for the story of the author's childhood and full colour when in the author's present. This along with the text easily helps the reader to know what time period/whose story is being told. The author's story of her upbringing with a moody father who becomes more and more domineering and angry is a riveting one made even more so when contrasted with that of Lucia Joyce's upbringing by a father who was very much temporally similar to her own. This holds special interest when one father was an eminent scholar of the other.

I found the story compelling and page-turning. I don't know much about Joyce myself, except that he lead a colourful life. I'm not exactly a fan; I have read one book, "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" and have no desire to read any of his other work, but I do still find the lives of people from his era fascinating from a social history aspect. I enjoyed the female leads (though the author manages to use a few frames to espouse her own anti-Catholic bigotry) and how they were affected by the eras they lived in simply by being female, how they rebelled against the norms of their times and what it did to them, or how they settled. Both women's stories contain tragedy and triumph though not both in the same order. Highly recommended, whether you have an interest in James Joyce or not, as the story is more focused on the female experience in ages past.

39. Dragonbreath #5: No Such Things as Ghosts by Ursula Vernon

2012-02-12T07:29:00.001-05:00

No Such Things as Ghosts by Ursula Vernon (US) - (Canada)
Dragonbreath, #5

Pages: 201
Ages: 8+
Finished: Feb. 5, 2012
First Published: Jul. 26, 2011
Publisher: Dial Books
Genre: children, graphic novel hybrid, humour
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

In the dark of night, the wily vampire stalks his prey.

Publisher's Summary: "Danny Dragonbreath and his best friend, Wendell, have a carefully constructed trick-or-treating system designed to maximize their Halloween candy haul. But this year, despite Danny's awesome vampire costume, their plan is flopping. First, Danny's dad makes them trick-or-treat with Christiana Vanderpool, an annoying know-it-all (and girl) who doesn't even believe that dragons exist. And then the school bully dares them to go into a spooky old haunted house. Naturally, the house is inhabited by a creepy clown and a candy-crazed ghost of yore. It's going to take more than fire-breathing to get them out of this mess - they might even have to (horror of horrors!) perform a sacrificial candy offering."

Acquired: Ds was gifted this copy at Christmas (2011).

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Once a kids' series like this has reached a certain number of books, it always follows through with an obligatory Hallowe'en story and this is Dragonbreath's Hallowe'en entry. Breaking form from the other books where they usually travel to meet with one of Danny's relatives to help them with the situation in which they find themselves, this time Danny, Wendell and classmate Christiana go trick or treating and end up with a real ghost on their hands. Lots of fun! Wendell meets his match with an even geekier kid than himself in Christiana. While Wendell's costume is an hydrogen atom, Christiana's is a salmonella bacteria and Christiana talks science using words even Wendell has to look up in a dictionary. But Christiana has a weakness, her scientific mind leads her to being a skeptic about anything unproven, even the fact that Danny is a dragon! So ultimately it is Christiana who has the hardest time facing a real ghost. An enjoyable book, full of everything we've come to expect from Danny Dragonbreath, with a nice combination of text and brief graphic panels. Fans will be delighted, references are made to adventures from previous books for faithful readers. While not my favourite in the series certainly up to par with the rest. Looking forward to the next volume which features one of my favourite cryptids, the jackalope

38. How Do We Stay on Earth? by Amy S. Hansen

2012-02-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

How Do We Stay on Earth? A Gravity Mystery by Amy S. Hansen. Illustrated by Korey Scott (US) - (Canada)
First Graphics series

Pages: 28
Ages: 5-8
Finished: Feb. 3, 2012
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Capstone Press
Genre: children, easy reader, graphic novel, non-fiction
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:
The ground is never far from your feet.

Publisher's Summary: "In graphic novel format, text and illustrations explain the force of gravity and how it keeps us on Earth."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I enjoy this publisher.

Basic easy reader with detailed information for the minimal text that is provided. Wonderful quality cartoonish illustrations are delightful and add humour to the factual text. A simple graphic interface with four frames per two page spread, narrative text between frames, and one to two comic bubbles that lead to the next page. The reading level is at the higher end of the given spread (K-3) and this would also be perfect for little ones who are reading ahead of age level.

37. How Do We Know About Dinosaurs? by Rebecca Olien

2012-02-10T07:54:00.000-05:00

How Do We Know About Dinosaurs? A Fossil Mystery by Rebecca Olien. Illustrated by Katie McDee (US) - (Canada)
First Graphics series

Pages: 24
Ages: 5-8
Finished: Feb. 3, 2012
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Capstone Press
Genre: children, easy reader, graphic novel, non-fiction
Rating: 3/5

First sentence: You can look, but you will never find a giant living dinosaur.

Publisher's Summary: "In graphic novel format, text and illustrations explain how fossils teach us about the dinosaurs."

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I enjoy this publisher.

Basic easy reader with detailed information for the minimal text that is provided. Wonderful quality cartoonish illustrations are delightful and add humour to the factual text. A simple graphic interface with four frames per two page spread, narrative text between frames, and one comic bubble that leads to the next page. The reading level is at the higher end of the given spread (K-3) and this would also be perfect for little ones who are reading ahead of age level.

36. Women of the Titanic Disaster by Sylvia Caldwell

2012-02-09T12:42:00.000-05:00

Women of the Titanic Disaster by Sylvia Caldwell. Foreword by Julie Hedgepeth Williams (Kindle Only)

Pages: 141 KB
Ages: 18+
Finished: Feb. 3, 2012
First Published: 1912, (e-edition Dec. 14, 2011)
Historic Publisher: A.W. Themanson Publishing Co.
Publisher: NewSouth Books
Genre: non-fiction, history, memoir
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

I have been sitting in the dusk, rocking to sleep the precious young life that was spared to me from the last great disaster and my heart goes out to the heart broken mothers whose babes have been snatched from their arms.

Publisher's Summary: "Sylvia Caldwell was onboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912. As one of the disaster's survivors, she took it upon herself to write an account of what happened in the event's aftermath. Women of the Titanic Disaster details Sylvia Caldwell's journey immediately following the sinking of the Titanic, and it gives us a fresh perspective on this historic event. With a foreword by Julie Hedgepeth Williams, author of A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells' Story of Survival, a biography of Sylvia Caldwell and her family."

Acquired: Purchased the Kindle edition.

Reason for Reading: I will be reading the non-fiction book about this woman's life and experience on the Titanic and thought this would be of historical interest as a pre-read.

This tiny booklet is interesting only because of its historical significance. If you are a completest in your Titanic readings then this will surely be of value to you. It really has no literary merit. Mrs. Caldwell's account is brief and concerns her time in the raft and onboard the rescue ship. She waxes poetic about the heroism of the women who survived saying it took much more bravery to carry on and live than it did to stay and go down with a husband. Of course, this is the English-speaking women as she sets aside the "foreign element" from the beginning. Mrs. Caldwell's account is melodramatic but is also historically engaging as it describes the sights and sounds from the raft and how the middle/upper class women fared after being rescued. One certainly wonders whether Mrs. Caldwell wrote her little booklet hoping to make some extra money for her family rather than from any sense of duty. Not that there's anything wrong with making money. Included is a foreword by the author of a non-fiction book on the Caldwell family, a relative, then a poem by "Beecher" followed by Mrs. Caldwell's account which includes both a picture of herself and one of her baby. Then comes a "Hymn for Survivors of the Titanic" by Hall Caine followed by the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee". Finally there is a brief "About the Author" which tells briefly about Sylvia Caldwell. All in all, I am thrilled this piece of history has been made available to the public and pleased to have read its contents.

35. Titanic 2012 by Bill Walker

2012-02-08T11:52:00.001-05:00

Titanic 2012 (Revised & Updated) by Bill Walker (US) - (Kindle)

Pages: 288
Ages: 18+
Finished: Feb. 3, 2012
First Published: 1998 (revised Jan. 31, 2012)
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications
Genre: realistic fiction, mystery, romance
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

The furor in the media had just died down when Solly's call came that rainy midweek day.

Publisher's Summary: "Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not -- he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan's audacity. Touched by his friend's interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his iPod Touch and a miniature wireless camera hidden in his glasses, Trevor interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron's film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves.

Trevor is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves. In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history..."

Note: I edited the Pub's summary as I thought it gave away too much information. The above is spoiler-free.

Acquired: Received a manuscript from the author.

Reason for Reading: This year is the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster and I am hosting a reading challenge.

Amazing! I was hooked on this book from the very first chapter. The book heavily pays homage to Cameron's movie (which {horrors} I have not seen ... yet!) as it is referenced frequently and is a major plot point. As everybody else in the world has seen the movie this will not be an issue, but for the other two of you out there that haven't, it doesn't matter and won't affect your enjoyment of the book.

The book contains a mystery which keeps one reading at a fast pace as we travel with the main character, Trevor, to find out what exactly is being kept from him. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and while I ultimately knew the end result, I didn't figure out the method and enjoyed how it all played out. The book is also a mild romance. I'm not keen on romances, per se, but this is just the right dose that it is more the story of two people who meet and have an impact on each other that will change their lives forever, than your typical "romance". My favourite character was Trevor. He was a real, flawed person that one could connect with right away. I'm sure many readers will also enjoy Maddie, as she is also a well-written character. I however, never "liked" her because of the choices she made. The story of her choice is also another major theme in the book that will pull at your heart strings (or make you angry, like it did me) and engages you throughout the entire book. This is a wonderful "light" read and would make the perfect choice for a plane ride, vacation or beach read, but perhaps not on a cruise. A great read!

34. The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson

2012-02-07T06:42:00.000-05:00

The Flint Heart: A Fairy Story Freely Abridged from Eden Phillpotts's 1910 Fantasy by Katherine and John Paterson. illustrated by John Rocco (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 288
Ages: 7+
Finished: Feb. 2, 2012
First Published: Sept. 27, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genre: children, fantasy, fairy tale
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:
Many years ago, oh, let's say five thousand, more or less, there lived in the south of England, in what is called Dartmoor, tribes of people who had never thought to make anything out of metal, much less plastic.

Publisher's Summary:

An ambitious Stone Age man demands a talisman that will harden his heart, allowing him to take control of his tribe. Against his better judgment, the tribe’s magic man creates the Flint Heart, but the cruelty of it causes the destruction of the tribe. Thousands of years later, the talisman reemerges to corrupt a kindly farmer, an innocent fairy creature, and a familial badger. Can Charles and his sister Unity, who have consulted with fairies such as the mysterious Zagabog, wisest creature in the universe, find a way to rescue humans, fairies, and animals alike from the dark influence of the Flint Heart? This humorous, hearty, utterly delightful fairy tale is the sort for an entire family to savor together or an adventurous youngster to devour.

A robust and wildly entertaining fairy tale, freely abridged from Eden Phillpotts’s 1910 fantasy and wryly retold by Katherine and John Paterson.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.

Reason for Reading: I enjoy the author and would read any new book by her that piqued my interest. I read this aloud to my son.

I'll start by saying that my son enjoyed this book much more than I did. That is factored into my rating. I read a chapter a day but before each reading I'd have my son give me a little recap on what happened last time as I was honestly so bored I couldn't remember what was going on. I kept thinking about the last book we read together! However when we were finished the book, my son's response was that the book had been "awesome!" and "Is there a sequel?" Go figure.

The story is repetitive. Someone finds the flint heart, wears it, and turns nasty. Then when someone else manages to get it away from them they fling it away only to later have another unfortunate soul find the flint heart again to repeat the process once more. Here we have our classic fairy tale element and I'll say my son (and I) are big fairy tale fans and I think he found comfort and enjoyment in the predictability of that plotline. Of course, our hero's task is to destroy the flint heart completely causing some adventure. Ds enjoyed the characters mostly. The wise old Zagabog, the funny fairy king and queen, as well as the other fairy characters; and he enjoyed both of the protagonists, a boy named Charles and his little sister Unity.

I was interested in the original this was "abridged" from, so started reading some of it online and a lot of the language has been kept, with whole phrases verbatim. What seems to be missing is the depth of language present in the original. I actually found myself getting interested in Phillpott's story and found his sense of humour dry and witty, something completely missing in this adaptation. The Kindle edition is too expensive for a public domain book but if I find it for up to 2 bucks, I'd like to read the original, which is much longer also. One point I must make is that the artwork by Rocco is beautiful. Large paintings that take up almost the entire 2-page spread in luscious earth tones. They are a pure delight to behold.

33. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tsukirino

2012-02-06T10:43:00.001-05:00

Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tsukirino (US) - (Canada)
Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1

Pages: 159
Ages: All Ages (5+)
Finished: Jan. 31, 2012
First Published: (Japan, 2005) English - Jan. 3, 2012
Publisher: viz media/viz kids
Genre: children, manga, cute, kawaii
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

The pups are playing baseball!
Publisher's Summary: "Oh no! Milk has disappeared through a mysterious door and only Cinnamoroll can save him! Will he find the courage to help his friend and still make it back to Café Cinnamon in time for tea?"

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: Always looking for good, clean, fun manga for younger kids. This piqued my interest.

Cinnamoroll is a Sanrio character created back in 2002 as part of their line of cute merchandising characters. To date he and his friends have been on all sorts of products, in a feature film and this manga series originally published in Japan starting in 2005. This is all I know of him, before this I had never heard of him. Cinnamoroll and his friends are puppies, such exaggeratedly cute pups that they could be a variety of different animals but pups is what they've been called. This manga starts the reader off with a cute, clean, fun story.

First there are 16 delightful pages done in full colour (all pastels which suit the kawaii mood). We are introduced to all the main characters, then the secondary characters and the magic items. Then there are three short fun comics that just jump in involving the characters and give the reader an idea of what we can expect. After this, the art turns to b/w and the main story begins which is extremely simplified in the publisher's summary. We are introduced to all the main characters, how they came to Cafe Cinnamon, how they received their magic items or what their abilities are. We are also introduced their nemesis "Cavity" who has it out for Cinamoroll right from the beginning. The friends find themselves a treasure map and thus begins their quest to find treasure with Cavity showing up now and then to wreak havoc. The main story ends on page 112 and at this point we enter a section called "Around the Seasons" and once again the reader is favoured with short random comics that take place seasonally and let us get to know our characters better. These stories are separate from the main thread of the middle story and are just a place for fun with the characters. The book is very sweetsy cute and certainly girly-girl, and those who fall in that category will probably adore Cinamoroll. I am not into cutesy stuff, but I found the comics entertaining and fun for their intended audience and I will read a few more in the series (depending on how long it is) to see where the main story line goes.

Recommended for little girls 5+, but pre-teen and young teen girly-girls will have a delightful dose of kawaii and enjoy as well.

CONTEST: The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

2012-02-05T14:52:00.002-05:00

In honour of my 100th Anniversary Titanic Reading Challenge, Random House Canada has been generous enough to offer this Titanic themed new-release title as a prize for me to offer. I have one copy of The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott to give away! You do not have to be a participant in my challenge to enter the contest but participants will have more chances to win!

Contest open to US & Canada mailing addresses only.

Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love.

Leave a comment below with your name and email for each of the following conditions met and you will receive one entry for each time you leave a comment:

+1 leave your name and email to enter
+1 do the above and tell me you are a follower (this means I click your name and see my blog listed under your "Blogs I Follow")
+1 do the above and tell me you are a participant of the challenge (sign ups are here)
+1 do the above and have already posted a review of a book or movie for the challenge, must be current (reviews go here)

That's a total of four possible entries! Good Luck! Contest ends Feb. 29.

I have a copy of the book for myself too and am looking forward to reading it!

32. The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett

2012-02-05T05:31:00.005-05:00

The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett. Illustrated by Andrea Offermann (US) - (Canada) - (Kindle)

Pages: 217
Ages: 10+
Finished: Jan. 31, 2012
First Published: Sept. 13, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genre: children, magical realism, war, WWII, historical fiction
Rating: 2/5

First sentence:

If the old bell had been hanging in the steeple it would have rung to announce midnight, twelve solemn iron klongs which would have woken the villagers from their sleep and startled any small creature new to the village and unaccustomed to the noise.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.

Publisher's Summary: "When the Germans attack their Romany encampment during World War II, Andrej and his younger brother, Tomas, flee through a ravaged countryside under cover of darkness, guarding a secret bundle. Their journey leads to a bombed-out town, where the boys discover a hidden wonder: a zoo filled with creatures in need of hope. Like Andrej and Tomas, the animals--wolf and eagle, monkey and bear, lioness and seal, kangaroo and llama-- have stories to share and a mission to reclaim their lives.

Master storyteller Sonya Hartnett crafts a magical and moving fable about war and redemption . . . and what it means to be free."

Reason for Reading: The story intrigued me as I enjoy WWII historical fiction and animal fantasy. How the two could be combined into a successful book had me wanting to read and find out.

Set in WWII, the story follows two Gypsy children who have managed to escape the wipe out of their family camp. The setting of the book is never given, though it is obviously Eastern Europe. There are signs in a foreign language and after researching that language and then double checking to see if Romany (Roms) were persecuted in that country during WWII, I've ascertained the country in question is the Czech Republic. The story never really grabbed me, I have a fifty page rule, where I will stop reading a book at 50 pages if it hasn't caught my attention and I almost stopped reading at page 56 because I had just been hit on the head with the fact that I was about to be "taught. a. lesson." and was not impressed, however I decided to finish the chapter and picked up a bit of plot that did keep me reading the entire short book.

I can't really say it was time well spent. The whole book is very "in-your-face" with the lessons and messages it wants to convey. Humans treat animals badly, even when they love them, and not always on purpose, but wild animals deserve freedom. Animals are not a part of any war and yet they suffer for it. Following suit, the gypsies were not at war with anyone, it was not their war, they only wanted freedom and yet it was taken away from then and they suffered. And so on ... the war is nobody's, yet they all suffer from it when the invaders/aggressors come. The book's main theme is freedom. The freedom of animals to live in the wild, not zoos, not under human control, the freedom of humans to live in peace, not in the middle of someone else's war.

This is all very idealistic and "nice" in a perfect world but this isn't a perfect world. When does someone else's war become your own war? When your neighbours are carted away? When the next street over is bombed to pieces? Or not until it is your own family stolen in the night or your house bombed to smithereens? Perhaps then it is still not your war? Do you suffer in silence, or do something about it?

Add to this idealistic message a strange magical realism aspect where animals in an abandoned zoo talk to the Gypsy children and all belief was thrown out the window for me. I am a big fan of animal fantasy, so talking animals don't necessarily turn me off, they just need to be in *their* world for me to suspend belief. Zoo animals talking to Rom children in the middle of WWII just goes way beyond my believability factor and coupled with the "beat you on the head" fable and moral of the story, I just was not impressed.

30. The Yellow House Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

2012-02-04T08:09:00.002-05:00

The Yellow House Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Illustrated by Mary Gehr. (Canada) - (US) - Kindle)

The Alden Family Mysteries, #3
Pages: 191
Ages: 7+
Finished: Jan. 28, 2012
First Published: 1953
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: children, mystery
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Four lively children lived with their grandfather Alden in a big house.

Acquired: Purchased a used copy from a garage/book sale or thrift shop.

Reason for Reading: This is part of my Random Bookshelf Reading project. I'm also working on re-reading this series and collecting the first 19.

Publisher's Summary: "In this third book from the series, Grandpa Alden tells Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny of the curious circumstances in which the yellow house became vacant over forty years ago. Determined to solve the mystery, the children uncover a trail of clues that leads them to memories of their boxcar days."

Yellow House follows the established pattern of the first two books and yet also branches out a bit. The children go back to Surprise Island and end up on an adventure that has them roughing it and living outdoors, camping, canoeing and taking care of themselves, as usual. The children are a bit older this time with both Henry and Jessie in high school, Violet 12 and Benny 7, making the book suitable for a wide range of ages at the time it was written. The new character picked up in the last book joins in as an important member of the cast of characters. Yellow House is the first time the series really brings us a mystery, as the first two really only dealt with mysterious people, whose identities the children figured out by the end of the book, though others knew the secret. This time somewhat in the same vein but still different we have a missing persons case and the children find clues and search out the long lost person. For an adult the mystery is weak and unbelievable but as a first introduction to the genre it is a fun romp and I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying myself with the read. The amiable, well-mannered children of yester-year who love to play outside are a breath of fresh air themselves. Both my boys enjoyed these books so I know they are still appealing to today's kids and I think it's because of the freedom the Alden children have to wander far and wide in the outdoors with minimum adult supervision; something virtually unknown to this generation in today's modern world. This book also brings about the first time the children refer to themselves as the "Boxcar Children". The book concludes with another addition to the Alden family household and I think we probably have our full cast of regular characters set for further novels. A strong book in the series.

29. The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

2012-02-03T05:37:00.001-05:00

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 386
Ages: 8+
Finished: Jan. 26, 2012
First Published: Oct. 1, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: steampunk, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

When Giuseppe found the green violin, he did not think it would help him escape.

Publisher's Summary: "When Giuseppe finds a green violin washed up in New York docks, somehow he knows it will change his life. But how? The very same day, Hannah, a maid at a local hotel, gets a strange new mistress. Why are Madame X and her mysterious Russian minder living in a hotel? What are they hiding from? Across the square, Frederick, a clockmaker's apprentice, hides his dark terrors, and an amazing gift. There is nothing to link these three children, except the green violin and a chance encounter on the street. But soon they are swept away in an epic adventure. This is a mesmerizing story of chance, friendship, and courage. "

Acquired: Received a review copy from Scholastic Canada.

Reason for Reading: This book came unsolicited but I enjoy steampunk as well as stories set in Victorian-like eras, especially from the lower class point of view.

This is a tough book to categorize. It centres around clockmakers, clockworks and an automaton within a Victorian (or Victorian-like) society and is obviously steampunk but from there it defies generalization. There is a mystery; this is mostly realistic fiction but there is just that tiny hint of fantasy; the author's note let's us know that some of the events are a compilation from actual events in history, though no dates or name places are given to let us know whether this is happening on our Earth or an alternate Earth. None of this really matters. What the story is, is adventure at top-speed, unique plotline and a page turner.

I was hooked at the first chapter and was held in this book's grip until the wonderful satisfying end. The three child characters are each fantastic as we get to know them and beautifully written. They are all similar in age and yet they go gradually from eldest to youngest. Each has a wounded soul and a problem in their lower class life that seems insurmountable. As pairs of the three meet each other and start helping each other it isn't until the three finally all meet together they realize that each one holds the key to another's problem and as such sets forth the tale that will change each of their lives forever.

The book has a Dickensian feel to it. Of course, starting with the Oliver Twist-like story of orphan Giuseppe and the buskers under the abusive thumb of Stephano. Then with the motley cast of characters with names such as Mrs. Treeless, Mr. Grumholdt and Mr. Stroop. A fantastic story that both readers of Victorian historical fiction and those of steampunk or sure to enjoy. A brilliant first novel, full of characterization and a plot that doesn't let up until the end. Very satisfying and recommended. I'll be reading this author again!

27. Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan

2012-02-02T06:02:00.001-05:00

Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan. Illustrated by Ron Mazellan (US) - (Canada

Pages: 32
Ages: 9+
Finished: Jan. 23, 2012
First Published: Nov. 2011
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Genre: children, picture book, historical fiction, WWII
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

On a cold February day in 1910, a baby girl was born to a Catholic family in a small town near Warsaw, Poland.

Acquired: Received an egalley from Lee & Low books through Netgalley.

Reason for Reading: I enjoy this type of children's biography and the Catholic connection interested me.

Publisher's Summary: "Irena Sendler, born to a Polish Catholic family, was raised to respect people of all backgrounds and to help those in need. She became a social worker; and after the German army occupied Poland during World War II, Irena knew she had to help the sick and starving Jews who were imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto. She began by smuggling food, clothing, and medicine into the ghetto, then turned to smuggling children out of the ghetto. Using false papers and creative means of escape, and at great personal risk, Irena helped rescue Jewish children and hide them in safe surroundings. Hoping to reunite the children with their families after the war, Irena kept secret lists of the children’s identities."

This is a picture book biography of a Polish Catholic heroine, whose legacy has been hidden in obscurity due to the Communist state of Poland after the war. However, Irena's story did get out and has become wider known thanks to books like this. Though a picture book, this is one for the older set. I'd recommend it for the 9-12 age group or a younger child only if they are aware of the reality of the killing of the Jews in WWII. Irena's story is told wonderfully and we get a glimpse of what makes an ordinary person a hero. How bravery and courage are a part of a person's moral compass, and beliefs in human dignity can cause one to accomplish great deeds with no thought to their "greatness", simply just to their "rightness".

The accompanying illustrations are beautiful and fit the mood of the story. They are dark and by that I mean using a dark colour palette to remind us of the desolate atmosphere of the Polish ghetto. I'm not sure what medium the work is done in, perhaps guache or chalks, but it is very effective and blending and shadowing has been used to great effect. A great insight into the Jewish Polish ghettos of WWII and a little known Catholic hero. Would make a great addition to Catholic school classrooms.

Watching in January

2012-02-01T12:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I kept away from the small screen this month more than I had wanted to. I had a very successful reading month, getting on a roll reading 33 books this month, that it left me with very little time to sit in front of the screen. I always feel like I'm not doing anything when I watch TV, which isn't fair to myself but I do hope to try and cure myself of that. Maybe I'll pick up knitting again.

Anyway, I did absolutely no TV surfing at all. We did go to the movies for our anniversary and saw MI 4. We both love Tom Cruise (for different reasons LOL) and had a good time. My brief review:

1. Mission: Impossible IV Ghost Protocol - (2011) (theatre) I don't have a lot to say about this. Dh and I went to see it on date night. We enjoyed it. Of course. We both like Tom Cruise (for different reasons, hehe) The movie was just what you'd expect but I didn't enjoy it as much as the others. It was just more *tame*. It certainly deserved its PG rating; we could have taken our son to see it. Their was lots of action but no real violence and Tom didn't even have a love interest! So no sexy bits. But still I loved the action. We enjoyed our time.

As far as TV seasons, I've put them on hold for now as I'm watching Death Note anime online. This is my very first time watching an anime after reading the manga series and it is quite an interesting experience. I'm on episode 10/37. They've made a big change in how they present the main character though which makes the dynamics totally different from the book which I'm not pleased with, otherwise they seem to be sticking fairly true to the events.

I must get back to watching Arrested Development though because I need to have finished that for when the new mini-series and movie come out. So will start Season 2 sometime soon.

26: Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo

2012-02-01T11:46:00.001-05:00

Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo (US) - (Canada)
Jellaby, Vol. 2

Pages: 172
Ages: 10+
Finished: Jan. 22, 2012
First Published: Apr. 21, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: children, graphic novel, fantasy, Canadian author
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

That's the last of the sandwiches, so don't eat it all at once, okay

Acquired: Borrowed a copy from my local library.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "As Portia, Jason, and Jellaby continue their journey through the city of Toronto, Portia is torn between her friendship with Jellaby and her duty to help the sweet monster find his way back to his home. How can Portia say goodbye forever, when Jellaby has become her best friend?

But the clues leading them to Jellaby's origins begin to turn sinister. When a hooded wizard introduces them to another monster like Jellaby, Portia and her purple friend are in for a gruesome shock -- this monster befriends children, too -- and then she eats them!

Now Portia must find a home for Jellaby, save Jason from the grasping tentacles of his new "best friend," and come to terms with the mysterious disappearance of her father.

It's a lot to take on, but Portia is mad, bad, and ready to kick some monster butt."

I enjoyed this volume a might better than the first since I at least knew what to expect but was still disappointed. Sure I love the illustrations; they are cute and all once you get used to the teeny kids and I like the expressions the artist can convey just with the character's eyes. But story wise I did not find it satisfying. Too many questions were left in my mind and no questions were answered. What happened to Portia's father? Is Jellaby an imaginary friend? If so, why can others see him? Or do they really see him? The ending leaves this all up in the air and just left me feeling flat and disappointed. Others really enjoy this little series but I have to say it just wasn't my cup of tea.

25. Shot at Dawn: World War I by John Wilson

2012-01-31T06:32:00.001-05:00

Shot at Dawn: World War I, Allan McBride, France, 1917 by John Wilson (US) - (Canada)
I Am Canada series

Pages: 201
Ages: 12+
Finished: Jan. 22, 2012
First Published: Feb. 1, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Canada
Genre: YA, historical fiction, Canadian author, WWI
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

I grew up on my father's ranch in the Nicola Valley in British Columbia.

Acquired: Borrowed a copy through Inter-Library Loan.

Reason for Reading: I am reading this series plus I enjoy this author.

Publisher's Summary: "The reality of trench warfare is a shock to Allan McBride. Like many other young soldiers, he enthusiastically signed up for the chance to join the war effort and be a part of the fighting. But after months in the ravaged battlefields, watching men, including his friend Ken, get blown up by German shelling, something in Allan snaps and he leaves his unit, believing he is "walking home to Canada" to get help for his friend.

After nearly a week of wandering aimlessly, Allan is taken in by a band of real deserters — men who have abandoned their units and live on the edge of survival in the woods of northern France. Once Allan realizes what he's done, he is paralyzed by the reality of his circumstance: if he stays with these men, it's possible they will be found and have to face the consequences; and if he returns to his unit, he will be charged with desertion — a charge punishable by death.

In this outstanding new title in the I Am Canada series, acclaimed author John Wilson explores life in the horrific trenches of WWI and the effect of battle on a shell-shocked soldier."

Having read this author before I knew this would not be a book for young children. John Wilson writes war stories that are gripping, horrific and page-turning. He describes the death in graphic detail which is not for the faint of heart and yet he does so in few words without gratuitous adjectives. The simple brief truth is enough to bring the reality of war home to the reader. The "I Am Canada" series, while recommended for 8-12 year olds, is not consistently suitable for the age spread with each individual book. Some books are OK for 8+ while others, like this one, are more for 12+ (as is suggested on the publisher's website). So make sure you know the title will match your child's maturity when choosing.

I found this book gripping and read it in one sitting which was only interrupted by a need to eat. This is a brutal look at war and not very sympathetic to the soldiers' plight as we are only getting the point of view of one person. Now, don't get me wrong, the reader is made sympathetic, terribly so, to the plight of the soldiers but the book does come across as harsh and slightly anti-war in its sympathies. This is clarified though in the author's note which is very informative on the Canadian role in WWI and speaks particularly to Canada's pride and remembrance of soldiers who fought at Amiens. I learnt quite a lot of information in this note about the shooting of British Empire soldiers for desertion. A moving read which will appeal mostly to boys, and those who enjoy gripping and personal war stories.

24. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce

2012-01-30T06:47:00.005-05:00

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce & Laura Geringer. Illuminations by William Joyce (US) - (Canada)
The Guardians, Book 1

Pages: 228
Ages: 7-11
Finished: Jan. 21, 2012
First Published: Oct. 4, 2011
Publisher: Atheneum
Genre: children, fantasy, steampunk
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

The battle of the Nightmare King began on a moonlit night long ago.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "Before SANTA was SANTA, he was North, Nicholas St. North—a daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric Shalazar. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terrors of epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the village.

When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos (literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting...and, he’s not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find them in time."

Not since "The Spiderwick Chronicles" have I read a children's fantasy aimed at the 7-11 crowd that is so engaging, quality literature with awesome illustrations to bring the story to life. This book is not genre specific as it mixes fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and fairytale retelling all together until one can't really categorize it. It takes place on our Earth and yet includes creatures from Atlantis and the Moon. As I was reading I often had a feeling of L. Frank Baum's writing style; the book looks and has a voice similar to a 19th/early 20th century children's fantasy, chapters have titles such as " In Which a Twist of Fate Begets a Knot in the Plan" and "Where the Impossible Occurs with Surprising Regularity".

The text is large and double-spaced with frequent illustrations so is much shorter than the page numbers would indicate and this does make character development suffer. One never really gets a full sense or deep caring for the characters but I did find the little girl Katharine to be the most fleshed out character and the one I cared for the most. The book ends with the story arc being concluded and yet the overarching story of the series has only just begun, thus it very much has a first in a series feel.

However, to clear a little confusion. This is not the first book in the series, even though it is called Book 1. This is a direct sequel to "The Man in the Moon" which is confusingly listed as "The Guardians of Childhood, Book 1". The Man in the Moon is a picture book but characters and events from the book are present and crucial to the story in "Nicholas St. North", so do read it first. Those over 11 may find the book lacking in depth, plot development and characterization as this is not a heavy or detailed read. What it is though, is a fun, whimsical, outlandish fantasy crossed with other genres written to especially appeal to the 7-11 age group and those adults willing to be a kid again. I'm impressed and eager for the next book which will feature the Easter Bunny (excuse me, E. Aster Bunnymund).

Graphic Novels Challenge 2012 - FINISHED

2012-01-29T06:28:00.007-05:00

NOTE: I am officially finished this challenge having completed the required 12 books, however I will continue to record and post my books read for the rest of the year as the challenge encourages us to do just that.

I'm participating once again in this challenge but with one new difference I'M THE NEW HOST! I'm so excited to be running this challenge which is dear to my heart and follows one of my favourite addictions. I'm keeping everything the same as usual except I've changed the goal to read 12 books during the year. If you read more than 12 you are more than welcome to continue posting to the blog throughout the year.

Come join the fun and sign up here.
Post reviews here.

My list of books:

1. Power at the Plate by Scott Ciencin
2. Riptide Pride by Brandon Terrell
3. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
4. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
5. MOAH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga
6. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga
7.Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen
8. Super Dinosaur, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman
9. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen
10. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7 by Hiroyuki Asada
11. African American Classics (Graphic Classics, Vol. 22)
12. Jellaby by Kean Soo

Extras:
13. Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo
14. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tsukirino
15. Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Mary M. Talbot
16. X 3-in-1, Vol. I by CLAMP
17. Judge Anderson: The Psychic Crime Files by Alan Grant
18. Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor
19.

23. Jellaby by Kean Soo

2012-01-29T06:13:00.000-05:00

Jellaby by Kean Soo (Canada) - (US)
Jellaby, Vol. 1

Pages: 144
Ages: 10+
Finished: Jan. 20, 2012
First Published: 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: children, graphic novel, fantasy
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

Thank you for your excellent report, Jason, now if we can ... Portia?

Acquired: Borrowed a copy from my local library.

Reason for Reading: I've wanted to read this since I first heard of it, then I read a short story in a recent Flight anthology. Somebody recently reviewed it in one of the challenges I'm in and that prompted me to finally read it.

Publisher's Summary: "Quiet, brilliant Portia has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom. Adjusting to life without a father is hard enough, but school is boring and her classmates are standoffish -- and even Portia’s mom is strangely distant. But things start looking up when Portia mounts a late-night excursion into the woods behind her house and discovers a shy, sweet-natured purple monster. Life with Jellaby is a lot more exciting, but Portia’s purple friend has secrets of his own; secrets that may even lead to the mystery of Portia’s father’s disappearance!"

A quick read with cute illustrations. Certainly more serious than I thought it would be, which came as a surprise. A cute purple monster just makes you think it's going to be a silly book but it's not and it's not for young children either as there are serious themes, mainly Portia's absent father and her friend Jason's obviously neglectful parents who are never home. Portia also has nightmares which are disturbing and could be frightening to younger or sensitive children, so do pay attention to the recommended age of ten plus. The book isn't silly but that doesn't mean it isn't funny. It has it's moments and I did enjoy Jellaby as a character. However, I just didn't connect with the book as other's have done. The children felt much younger than they are supposed to be which was off-putting and the fact that Portia doesn't know where her dad is seems strange once it is apparent that he is somewhere. I'm pretty sure I know what happened to him, but we will have to find out in the second book. This book is also very much a "Part 1" as it ends with them going off on a journey and the words "to be continued". I know most people love this book but "just OK" for me; the combination of cute and seriousness didn't work for me, plus I had a lot of unanswered questions. I also questioned the nature of Jellaby, whether he was an "imaginary" friend, evidence points otherwise and yet still the question lingers.

22. Out of Slavery by Linda Granfield

2012-01-28T08:21:00.000-05:00

Out of Slavery: The Journey to Amazing Grace by Linda Granfield. Illustrated by Janet Wilson. (Canada) - (US)

Pages: 40
Ages: 9+
Finished: Jan. 19, 2012
First Published: Aug. 11, 2009
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: children, YA, biography, history, 1700s, slavery,
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

In the oppressive night-blackness, the horizon melted into the sea as the African moved towards the West Indies.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Tundra Books.

Reason for Reading: I love Linda's other two book's which are based on the stories of poems and the lives of the authors. I was intrigued to hear the story of the man who wrote the legendary hymn "Amazing Grace".

Publisher's Summary: "The story of slavery, a man, and the world’s most beloved hymn.

John Newton led a rich life. He was a God-fearing man and a successful seafaring trader; his cargo was a lucrative business, for his wares were human beings. In 1748, Newton’s ship, the Greyhound, sailed the triangular trade route from Liverpool to Africa and on to Antigua as it had many times before. But on one journey, at the height of the slave trade, a storm raged. Feeling all was lost, Newton prayed that if he were spared, he would leave the cruel world of slave trading behind forever. That night, Newton’s prayers were answered, and true to his word, he turned his back on the slave trade. In fact, he went on to become an ardent abolitionist. Among Newton’s many achievements, his greatest legacy would be the most beloved hymn of all: “Amazing Grace.”"

This is a beautiful book, both visually and the story it has to tell. First of all, even though this is a picture book, it is not for small children. The recommended age is 9-12 and I'd add anyone over 12 as well. The story is intense. John Newton lived in cruel times and he participated in them as much as anyone else did. This book brought home to me how much we human beings are a product of our times, no matter how "good" one thinks oneself to be. Ms. Granfield does not hold back on any of the cruelty of the slave trade, and we are talking the British colonial slave trade here, but she does not resort to graphic detail, she does not need to. The simple truth and brief glances are more than enough to convey this horrid piece of history, while the haunting paintings only add to the reality.

John Newton comes across as a "nice" man, even a "good man" of his era. Here we see moral relativism in action. He is certainly a "better" slave trader than most of his contemporaries, not crowding his ships, while others filled their ships with "cargo", he called them "men" & "women" and perhaps this had something to with his own fifteen months he spent kidnapped and serving as a slave himself in the West Indies or his own religious beliefs he was brought up with. It was this life, his own suffering, the suffering he saw and the suffering he caused that turned him into an evangelical minister and writer of hymns, including the most well-known hymn in the world to all denominations, Amazing Grace. A poignant, hard-hitting story which will make the hymn even more meaningful to its singers once they know how it came to be. This book will be a keeper for my shelves.

21. 101 Puzzle Quizzes by The Grabarchuk Family

2012-01-27T07:10:00.002-05:00

101 Puzzle Quizzes by The Grabarchuk Family (Kindle Only)

Pages: 2753 KB
Ages: ALL AGES (best 10+)
Finished: ongoing
First Published: Aug. 22, 2011
Publisher: Grabarchuk Puzzles
Genre: puzzles, games
Rating: 5/5

Acquired: Received an ebook review copy from Grabarchuk Puzzles.

Reason for Reading: When I first took a look at what this puzzle book was all about, what made it unique, I was very intrigued; especially on behalf of my 11yo autistic son.

Publisher's Summary: "In this brand-new puzzle collection you will find 101 pictorial, hand-crafted puzzle quizzes in different themes: visual, spatial, counting, geometry, matchstick, coins, searching, and much more. You can interactively answer and check a puzzle quiz by clicking the respective answer button. Only the correct answer leads to the solution page. The collection is specially created for all kinds of solvers - beginners, skillful, and expert alike. The puzzles are arranged so that you start with the easy (*) puzzles and progress to the hard (*****) puzzles."

When I first saw this book I was thrilled that the puzzles were visual and spatial, involved counting and searching. Most puzzle books are at least 50% word puzzles and therefore inappropriate for my son as he is autistic and has major learning disabilities when it comes to reading, writing and spelling. These puzzles are the perfect thing for him. First of all there is one puzzle per page, no clutter. They are in colour which may mean colourful or simply the use of one or two colours on a page, pleasing to the eye but not distracting. They are interactive. Each puzzle gives you a multiple choice answer. You pick the one you think is correct and if you are right you're taken to the solution page with a detailed explanation of how the puzzle was solved (in case you just guessed!) But if you are wrong, you are taken to a sad emoticon and told to go back to the puzzle. There is no way to cheat and peak at the answer!

The various different kinds of puzzles repeat themselves throughout the book so once you get the hang of it you actually get better at them as they get harder. For example there are many pattern puzzles. Finding the next one in a pattern, picking which one doesn't belong with the others based on pattern and picking which 2 match each other due to patterns. Items can be rotated or flipped and while the first ones get you comfortable with the puzzle type you are ready for the harder ones when they eventually come along.

My son took to this book right. Being autistic it is hard finding puzzles for him to enjoy, but he loved these. One, he didn't have to use a pencil, two, it was almost like playing on the computer, three, he could actually figure them out and four, they were fun! Using patterns, counting, visuals, spatials, etc. these have targeted his brain in the exact way that it likes to work. At first I had to get him not to just guess which was the answer but stop and figure it out but he was thrilled that he could get them right.

Myself, I also am on the spectrum, having Asperger's and I've been having a ball with this book as well. I can figure out most of the puzzles, some take that extra thought but I've found that my weakness is in the geometry area. I'm hopeless with the area puzzles once they became complicated shapes and also the paperfolding to create a certain shape. Otherwise my son and I are complimenting each other well in finding the solutions and have found these to be perfect for the Autistic person who is not able to do traditional word puzzles such as crosswords, word scrambles, fill-ins, wordsearches, etc. These books would also make a great morning exercise to get brains warmed up in the classroom of upper elementary to highschool. The puzzles do get hard/tricky once you hit the mid-point! I will certainly be going back to buy 100 Puzzle Quizzes after I've completed this one. You can't go wrong for $4.99!

20. The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill

2012-01-26T06:34:00.000-05:00

The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill (US) - (Canada)
Simon Serrailler Crime Novel, 6

Pages: 355
Ages: 18+
Finished: Jan. 10, 2012
First Published: Jan. 3, 2012
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Canada
Genre: mystery
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

The rain had been steady all afternoon as Simon Serrailler drove home from Wales and the wedding of an old friend.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "A cold case comes back to life in this sixth book in the highly successful Simon Serrailler detective series "eagerly awaited by all aficionados" (P.D. James). Freak weather and flash floods all over southern England. Lafferton is under water and a landslide on the Moor has closed the bypass. As the rain slowly drains away, a shallow grave--and a skeleton--are exposed; 20 years on, the remains of missing teenager Harriet Lowther have finally been uncovered. The case is re-opened and Simon Serrailler is called in as senior investigating officer. Harriet, an only child, had been on her way home from a friend's house that night. She was the daughter of a prominent local businessman, Sir John Lowther. Cold cases are always tough, and in this latest in the acclaimed series from Susan Hill, Serrailler is forced to confront a frustrating, distressing and complex situation."

I love this series! And eagerly await each new installment which, unfortunately only come out every other year, but boy! is it worth the wait! Simon is working on the cold case of skeletal remains which were easily identified by a genetic abnormality but soon after the finding of this body more remains are found close by; this time in a shallow grave. Simon must decide if they are related and how. This time the victim is an unknown and proves difficult to identify. A most intriguing and stimulating case with many twists, turns and avenues.

As usual with Hill's books, while the case is the main focus of the book it does not take up the whole spotlight. Simon's character and personal life, along with that of his family continues on in an established story arc throughout the books. The other topic that permeates this book is that of the elderly/terminally ill and death. Susan Hill explores this theme from many angles giving us characters who are doctors, nurses, caregivers and patients who are simply elderly, suffering from dementia or dying from terrible terminal illnesses. She explores hospice care, private clinics, those who are content with their life and now death and those who are angry at the world for their illness and impending death. She explores the controversial issue of self-assisted suicide from both sides , while making a sympathetic character who deals with the issue and at the same time dealing with the crime that it is in England and most of the civilized world.

A page-turning, thought-provoking, addictive read. And a highly recommended series. For some reason I started this one in the middle, so I have to keep reminding myself I have the first three books awaiting my reading pleasure.

19. It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph by Monica Kulling

2012-01-25T06:19:00.001-05:00

It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph by Monica Kulling. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. (US) - (Canada)
Great Idea Series, 1

Pages: 32
Ages: 6+
Finished: Jan. 17, 2012
First Published: Aug. 11, 2009
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: children, picture book, biography, non-fiction, Canadian author
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

George Eastman left school when he was only fourteen.

Acquired: Received a Review Copy from Tundra Books.

Reason for Reading: I love the author's children's biographies, and this was the last book I still had to read in this series, wanting to catch up before a new one came out.

Publisher's Summary: "In 1877 in Rochester, New York, George Eastman couldn’t understand why picture-taking was so difficult. Having left school at fourteen to support his mother and two sisters, George decided to find out by making photography his hobby. He packed up glass plates, a plate holder, a tent, a heavy tripod, a thick piece of black cloth, a water jug, and chemicals and set off to take his first photograph.

George realized that not many people could own a camera — they were too expensive and the size of today’s microwave ovens! But how could he make picture-taking easier? Eventually, George created dry plates, and they were such a success that he opened his own dry-plate company in 1881. But this was only the beginning — George went on to invent film and the Brownie camera. The rest is history."

This is a fun picture book told in a storyteller voice. There are no dates or dry facts; instead we have here an entertaining story of a man who was frustrated with how difficult (and expensive!) it was to take just one picture. If he was going to do this as a hobby he really needed to figure out a better way to take pictures, and thus, he starts years of inventing an improvement upon the camera until he eventually comes up with the Kodak instant camera. The tale is told with humour and George's mother is a great "sidekick". It is she who first encourages him to take up a hobby, then to do something about it when he is frustrated with the cameras available to him, but later on as his inventing takes over her kitchen and a large part of George's conversation she humorously gets "fed-up" with it all. Of course, I knew who Eastman was and what he accomplished (and little bit of useless info, I used to work for them.) but this brief children's bio introduced me to the man and what inspired him, information I previously did not know. Children are going to be fascinated with the history of cameras presented here. Slavin's illustrations are as usual wonderful. They are detailed, capture the era, and his character's facial features are comic and lively. Probably my favourite of the series so far.

18. African-American Classics (Graphic Classics)

2012-01-24T07:01:00.002-05:00

African-American Classics edited by Tom Pomplun & Lance Tooks (US) - (Canada)
Graphic Classics, Vol. 22

Pages: 144
Ages: 12+
Finished: Jan. 16, 2012
First Published: Dec. 1, 2011
Publisher: Eureka Productions
Genre: graphic novel, anthology
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

The village of St. Gervais was one of the first to feel the devastating fury of the Hun.

Acquired: Received a Review Copy from Eureka Productions.

Reason for Reading: I absolutely love this series of books and read each new one that comes out. I hope to get around to reading more of their backlist this year.

Publisher's Summary: "African-American Classics presents great stories and poems from America''s earliest Black writers, illustrated by contemporary African-American artists. Featured are ''Two Americans'' by Florence Lewis Bentley, ''The Goophered Grapevine'' by Charles W. Chesnutt, ''Becky'' by Jean Toomer, two short plays by Zora Neale Hurston, and six more tales of humor and tragedy. Also featured are eleven poems, including Langston Hughes' ''Danse Africaine'' and ''The Negro'', plus Paul Laurence Dunbar's ''Sympathy'' (''I know why the caged bird sings... '')"

Usually when I read one of these collections of themed books I am familiar with a majority of the works but this time everything was new for me. I do read Black authors but they are contemporary ones such as Toni Morrison, making this an introduction for me to these early Black authors. I should say I was familiar with one writer and that is the poet Langston Hughes. This book does contain more than the norm, for this series, of poetry which I thought would bug me (not a poetry person) but I rather enjoyed the poems especially "Danse Africaine" (which was new to me) by Langston Hughes.

Grouping together a collection of stories based on author's race rather than a literary theme makes for a wide selection of genres to be represented (though I would say they all expressed the Black experience) and as such a few were not exactly my thing, but I enjoyed the majority of them and found several of them to be excellent. My favourite story was"Lex Talionis" by Robert W. Bagnall, a creepy tale of revenge. I also enjoyed "Two Americans" by Florence Lewis Bentley, "The Goophered Grapevine" by Charles W. Chestnutt. I found "Sanctum 777 N.S.D.C.O.U. Meets Cleopatra" by Leila Amos Pendleton to be a joy and was deeply touched with "Becky" by Jean Toomer.

The illustrations throughout the book are fantastic, presenting a wide range of styles and making for a visually stunning book. But then isn't every book in this series! It should be noted that the illustrators for this book are themselves all contemporary Black artists. A great book to treat yourself for Black History Month, or well, just anytime! I certainly appreciate the introduction to authors I've never read before.

17. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7 by Hiroyuki Asada

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

Blue Notes Blues by Hiroyuki Asada (US) - (Canada)
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7

Pages: 192
Ages: 13+
Finished: Jan. 15, 2012
First Published: 2006, Japan (English: Nov. 1, 2011)
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, science fiction, fantasy
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Yo! Zazie here! The Letter Bee?

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "Lag has discovered that his long-lost hero Gauche Suede lost all of his heart, became tangled up in an anti-government organization called "Reverse," and is now known as "Marauder Noir." Noir’s trail leads Lag and Niche to the icy northern town Blue Notes Blues. It just so happens Niche was born here. Lag and Niche uncover her mysterious origins: a sacred underground lake...where her brethren still dwell."

This is a plot developing volume with major climaxes happening with two major story arcs. First the story of Gauche Suede. Lag already knows what he has become and what he is up to but as both he and Zazie are working in the same area, it is Zazie who has a major run in with Gauche and we finally see to what depths he has sunken. Meanwhile, Lag himself has found something else of interest in this neighbourhood and the mystery of Niche is finally unveiled and is a unique fantasy story, one which makes her an even more interesting character. A fast-paced read, this series is always very easy to jump into the next volume and get carried away with the story. Rated T for 13+ I've always found this series to be very mild compared to others with the same rating, however, this volume does have almost complete female front nudity. If you look at the girl on the cover, let's just say there is a whole lot more clothes on her there, than in the book! But as I said it is *almost* and her scenes are not s*xual in any manner. Just an FYI. I can't wait for the next volume. I wish they published this series more often!

16. 14 Valentine Puzzle Quizzes by The Grabarchuck Family

2012-01-22T07:25:00.000-05:00

14 Valentine Puzzle Quizzes by The Grabarchuck Family (US & Canada - Kindle Only)
Pages: 576 KB ebook
Ages: ALL AGES (approx 10+)
Finished: Jan. 15, 2012
First Published: Jan. 10, 2012
Publisher: Grabarchuk Puzzles
Genre: puzzles
Rating: 4/5

Acquired: Received a complementary copy from Grabarchuk Puzzles.

Reason for Reading: My son & I are in the middle of having a blast with the 101 Puzzles book, that when the publisher asked if I was interested in reviewing this book I was delighted.

Publisher's Summary: "Here is a special Valentine present for the lovers of the Top Rated Puzzlebook series. In this new puzzle collection you will find 14 holiday themed, pictorial, hand-crafted puzzle quizzes."

If you've ever played any of the Grabarchuk puzzlebooks then you know what a treat you are in for here. If not, then here's your perfect sampler size try-out at a ridiculously small price of .99 cents. These puzzles involve visual, spatial, counting, geometry, and much more; only one requires the ability to read & spell. The puzzles are in full colour and interactive. Once you think you have the answer, click on it and you will either be taken to a "You are wrong" page "go back" or you are taken to the solution with an explanation. From this page you are directed to the next puzzle. It's pretty impossible to sneak a peak at the answers.

I had a ton of fun with these quick puzzles. Arranged in order from easiest to hardest, I zoomed through the first half lickety split then had to put on my thinking cap, the last few were doozies and the last one I couldn't figure out even after I'd read the solution! If you are a Grabarchuk puzzle fan, pick this one up for that special one you love and play the puzzles together over a bottle of champagne this Valentine's Day. If you haven't given these puzzles a try, this is a perfect one to get a feel for the play. Kids and adults alike will be hurrying back for more!

2nds Challenge 2012 (FINISHED)

2012-01-21T06:46:00.008-05:00

ETA: I'm officially finished this challenge as I signed up for the first level to read 3 books and have completed that. I will now consider the challenge completed, however, I will continue on and see how far I can move up through the levels. Books read listed below.

This challenge is hosted by Katy and sign-ups are here. A year long challenge to read either 2nd books in series or second books by authors you've only read once. This easily fits in with my goals and I already see books on my shelves that fit the bill.

These are the levels:

Just a spoonful - Read 3 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
A few more bites - Read 6 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
A full plate - Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
All you can eat - Read 20 books (or more) that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.

I'll choose Just a spoonful to start with and read three as my main goal but we'll see if I can move up to higher levels.

Post reviews here.
Total Books read:

1. Dragon Seer's Gift by Janet McNaughton (2nd in series & 2nd by author)
2. No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve (2nd by author)
3. The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton (2nd in series & 2nd by author)
(Just a spoonful: 3 books)

(FINISHED main goal - continuing on)

4. 101 Puzzle Quizzes by The Grabarchuk Family (2nd by author)
5. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce (2nd in series & 2nd by author)
6. Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo (2nd by author & 2nd in series)
(A few bites more: 6 books)

7. Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan (2nd by author)
8. Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon (2nd by author; 2nd in series)
9. Prisoners in the Promised Land by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (2nd by author)
10.
11.
12.
(A full plate: 12 books)

15. The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton

2012-01-21T05:56:00.001-05:00

The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton (US:Kindle Only ) - (Canada)
The Perilous Realm Trilogy, Book 2

Pages: 379
Ages: 10+
Finished: Jan. 15, 2012
First Published: Jan. 10, 2012
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genre: children, fantasy
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

He was leaving tonight.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "The Perilous Realm is not just a world with stories in it. This world is Story. Whatever you might find in a story, you will find here. Adventures, strange encounters, riddles. Heroes and monsters. Bravery, goodness and terrible evil."

Will has returned from his exhilarating adventure in the Realm and is back at home with his family trying to go through the motions of ordinary life. But he is dogged by feelings of restlessness and is desperate to see Rowen again. It's not long before he obeys the irresistible pull to return to Fable and resumes his quest. Will is shocked to discover that in the time since he left he's become a legend. He is greeted as a returning hero. Soon enough, Will may have to test his true heroism: Rowen is missing and in great danger. Will must stop the evil Malabron before Rowen and all of Fable are swept up by his wicked scheme."

The first book in this trilogy was published in 2008 and I read it at that time. That book had ended with the conclusion of it's main plot although leaving it open for a next book to carry on with an overall arching plot. I had basically forgotten about this series when I saw the second volume was finally out and vaguely remembering a fondness for the story decided to carry on with it. I barely remembered any of the plot of book one as I went into this but that was ok because this book starts off with a brief page and a half summary of book one and then throughout the story mentions events from book one to refresh the readers' memory. These bits certainly don't go into any great details, but are welcomed by a reader who was with the author four years ago for the first book.

I had some issues with the first book and they've been solved this time around. Will is a much more fleshed out character and I've grown more fond of him. Again this is a typical high fantasy story with a quest and a motley cast of travelling companions. Joining Will is old friend Shade the wolf, and eventually Flinn Madoc the Dwarf but we have a new fun and interesting character in Balor the wildman. Once again, even though I enjoyed the story and characters, I did find it a slow read, like the first one and I find it hard to explain way, except perhaps the writing style. While I was hooked on the plot, I just didn't find it a page-turner. Wharton has created a unique world here in which Will Lightfoot can travel from his own Earth with the convenience that weeks on Earth are equal to about a year in the Story Realm allowing him much time to complete his adventures.

This book doesn't have quite as satisfying an ending as book one did. Yes, the main subplot that runs through the volume is solved and comes to a conclusion but the over all story arch running throughout both volumes is more pronounced in this book and the final ending, while not being a cliffhanger, is indeed a foreshadowing of what is to come in the next volume. With this kind of ending I can only hope readers do not have to wait another four years for the next book! Recommended for those who like their fantasies to consist of a quest with evil vs good and a cast of characters such as dwarfs, wildmen, horsemen, mages, seers, etc.

13. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

2012-01-20T07:27:00.001-05:00

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen. Art by Rebecca Guay (Canada) - (US)

Pages: 144
Ages: 12+
Finished: Jan. 12, 2012
First Published: Sept. 13, 2011
Publisher: Dark Horse
Genre: YA, fantasy, graphic novel
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

There is a spit of land near the farthest shores of the farthest islands known as Dragonfield.

Acquired: Received an egalley from Dark Horse via NetGalley.

Reason for Reading: Jane Yolen is a favourite author.

Publisher's Summary: "A textured and lyrical tale of adventure, homelands, and heroism the hard way. Two hundred years ago, humans drove the dragons from the islands of May. Now, the last of the dragons rises to wreak havoc anew — with only a healer’s daughter and a kite-flying would-be hero standing in its way."

A beautiful fantasy and original fairy tale of a couple, the man is the local healer, and their three daughters. The youngest daughter takes after the father and will one day follow in his footsteps to take over as village healer. As they are out one day they discover some herbs, dragonsbane, never found in these parts before. The father explains the legend that it means a dragon is near by but of course he dismisses it as old superstition. When the father disappears shortly afterwards, then followed by horses, sheep, cattle and finally an unattended babe in arms, the discovery of a dragon is not surprising to the villagers. Three boys are sent off to find a hero, a dragonslayer, to rid them of their nightmare but looks can be deceiving and wits are often much more effective.

A fantastic story that kept me spellbound throughout my one sitting read. I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. The story is somewhat predictable in that it follows expected plotlines with no unexpected twists, but it is also a lovely romance and just a perfect tale to make one's heart sigh. A gorgeous specimen of masculinity, and a beautiful and intelligent woman fighting and risking their lives; one for her village, the other for his love. The artwork is truly gorgeous. My only complaint is that I was reading from an egalley and the art is just too large and overpowering to enjoy to its fullest in this format (and I was reading from my computer screen); one must surely have the actually pages in front of one to experience their pure glory. A must read for fans of fairy tales.

12. 50 Underwear Questions: A Bare All History by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

2012-01-19T12:11:00.000-05:00

50 Underwear Questions: A Bare All History by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird (Canada) - (US)
50 Questions Series

Pages: 116
Ages: 8+
Finished: Jan. 11, 2012
First Published: Jul. 7, 2011
Publisher: Annick Press
Genre: children, humour, history, Canadian author
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:
When you think of mummified bodies, you might picture their forms wrapped in long, Halloween-style linen strips.

Acquired: Received an egalley from Annick Press through NetGalley..

Reason for Reading: I love social history and I thought the history of this topic geared towards children could prove to be quite funny.

Publisher's Summary: "You are what you wear (underneath)!

Most of us take our underwear for granted, but throughout history our undies have revealed a lot about who we are (king or peasant), how we work (in fields or factories) or the shapes we value (manly calves or tiny waists).

The third book in Annick's 50 Questions series tackles questions such as "What's that smell?" (Medieval Europeans thought bathing made you sick) and "Did boxers arrive in the Nick of time?" (When blue jean model Nick Kamen stepped out of his denims to reveal his boxers, sales of the underwear soared.)

Underwear has played a role in ancient crusades, city sieges and even modern economic predictions. Obviously, it's time to uncover the facts about everything from loincloths and T-shirts to bloomers and lingerie. Young readers will laugh their pants off at the accompanying cartoons and get the bare, but fascinating, facts about the history of our unmentionables. "

A very colourful book written on blue pages which have the appearance of fabric. This is a bright bold, attractive book that grabs your attention right away; the artwork is cartoonish and silly, some characters even felt a bit Simpsons-ish too me. The information is highly interesting and unless you read a wide variety of historical fiction through all time eras, you are going to learn something here. The book starts off with Adam & Eve and the proverbial fig leaf and Stone Age Men then goes forward through time reaching modern day boxer briefs and thongs. To really enjoy the history and the humour of the history the reader must be mature enough to not be continuously giggling at the words "breast", "genitals", "private parts" and "family jewels". Otherwise there will be just too much giggling to appreciate the books secret information that we've always wondered but never had anyone to ask before. The pictures are clean, there is no nudity or copious amounts of flesh. The book is family friendly as long as you don't mind seeing people in their underwear and remember, back in the day underwear was more modest than modern day's outerwear! A really fun book that's sure to add not only laughter but real insight into past generations and what they thought of and used underwear for compared to modern society. A great read for anyone interested in "how did they live back then?".

11. Super Dinosaur Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman

2012-01-18T06:40:00.000-05:00

Super Dinosaur Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman. Art by Jason Howard (US) - (Canada)
Super Dinosaur, Vol. 1

Pages: 128
Ages: 8+
Finished: Jan. 10, 2012
First Published: Dec. 6, 2011
Publisher: Image Comics
Genre: children, manga, robots, dinosaurs, superheroes
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

I know what you're thinking: Who the heck are these guys?!

Acquired: Received an egalley from the publisher, Image Comics, through NetGalley..

Reason for Reading: Robert Kirkman wanted to write something his son could read and I wanted him too! So I was anxious to see what this would be like.

Publisher's Summary: "This is where it begins! The Evil Max Maximus wants to get to Inner-Earth! He wants the dinosaurs that live there! He wants the powerful DynOre mineral that originates there! SUPER DINOSAUR and DEREK DYNAMO are the only ones who can stop him! The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a ten year-old kid and his best friend, a nine-foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex who loves to play video games."

This was truly wonderful. We jump right in with battle scenes between genetically altered dinosaurs, who are part robot, and Derek Dynamo. Then we are switched back to the lab where Super Dinosaur (SD to his friends) quickly starts talking about his machinery. This leaves the reader somewhat out of the loop but as the events and dialogue continue we are quickly brought up to par with the other members of the team and understand as much as they do, who they are fighting against and why.

Super Dinosaur is an awesome superhero, that will appeal to boys and dinosaur fans, as will the other various villains such as Terrordactyl and Dreadasaurus to name only a few. The evil genius is a typical protagonist along with his usual background story of how he became evil in the first place. But this makes him easy to understand. This book isn't really the place for deep characters, we already know what makes most of them tick. But new characters are introduced and they put a new swing on things, both good and bad. The volume then ends up with some things nicely wrapped up only to have a major twist in the story thrown at us on the last pages that will have you clamouring for more. This will satisfy pre-teen male readers who are looking for something a little more involved than just Pokemon or Bakugan. However, the final pages of the story, really got me involved in the plot and I'll be sure to read on to Vol. 2 to find out what happens next with the continuing story arc.

10. No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 186
Ages: 8+
Finished: Jan. 10, 2012
First Published: Sep. 1, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: children, fantasy
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

So they went North, the man and the Boy, and the roads narrowed, and big slate-headed mountains reared up ready to eat the sky.

Acquired: Received a Review Copy from Scholastic Canada.

Reason for Reading: I read one book previously by the author, Fever Crumb, and enjoyed it. This one looked like it would make a good read aloud to ds.

Publisher's Summary: " Dragons don't exist...or do they? Ansel is a mute boy whose master, Brock, is a dragon slayer. Brock wears shining armor and has the scars to prove his heroic stories, but Ansel still suspects that there is no such thing as dragons. So what is the man-eating monster that haunts the crags of Dragon Mountain? Ansel and Brock must make a terrifying journey to the top of the mountain to find out!"

Set in the middle ages of presumably our world, the book is immersed in a religious Catholic society, with both bad and good people, but a society who presumes there is a God. He can be found on all pages and while some characters use His name as a curse others use it as a cry for help. I really enjoyed being sat down in this society. We explore a real life event similar to St. George's infamous incident with the dragon, only when it comes down to just a handful of regular people, dragon fighting and maiden saving is not quite so heroic a deed as legend leads us to believe. Ansel, the mute, and Else, the offered maiden, are wonderful main characters who grow in character both in maturity and spiritually as does the at first, somewhat villainous Brock. Unfortunately, the antagonist is played by a Friar who is greedy, selfish and used his position and religion when it suits him best for his own purposes. The dragon is the foe and always is but he is not the protagonist anymore than a bear in the woods would have been.

The book starts off slowly and does take time for the story to settle in and the action to take grip, but once all the characters are on the mountain we were hooked and ready by the time the dragon made his first appearance. A few bits of gory scenes as a horse and man are eaten but nothing overdone. DS wants a sequel but I've told him we have to enjoy books that are just a story all by themselves sometimes. I'm glad it is a standalone and enjoyed it as a readaloud as well.

9. Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen

2012-01-16T11:58:00.001-05:00

Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen. Art by Jonathan Case (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 239
Ages: 18+
Finished: Jan. 8, 2012
First Published: Sep. 13, 2011
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Genre: graphic novel, true crime, non-fiction, serial killer
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

They got us surrounded.

Acquired: Received an egalley from Dark Horse through NetGalley.

Reason for Reading: I love true crime depicted in the graphic format.

Publisher's Summary: "Throughout the 1980s, the highest priority of Seattle-area police was the apprehension of the Green River Killer, the man responsible for the murders of dozens of women. In 1990, with the body count numbering at least forty-eight, the case was put in the hands of a single detective, Tom Jensen. After twenty years, when the killer was finally captured with the help of DNA technology, Jensen spent 180 days interviewing Gary Leon Ridgway in an effort to learn his most closely held secrets--an epic confrontation with evil that proved as disturbing and surreal as can be imagined.

Written by Jensen's own son, acclaimed entertainment writer Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Story presents the ultimate insider's account of America's most prolific serial killer."

An outstanding insider's look into the Green River Killer case which took twenty years to solve and while detectives and officers came and went that participated on the case, one man was there from the beginning to the end, Detective Tom Jensen. This book is written by that detective's son who gives a unique perspective on the case. The book concentrates mainly on how once Gary Ridgway was apprehended, how the current detectives and Tom Jensen, now retired, and working as a civilian analyst for the police got Ridgway to confess to the murders and prove beyond a doubt that he had information only the killer could know. The book starts with the time of arrest and then goes back and forth to times in the past when Jensen was working the case and times when Ridgway was on his killing spree. Thus we get perspectives from both the law enforcement and the serial killer himself.

I found the book flowed nicely, the date was always given so the reader knew whether it was past or present and both Ridgway and Jensen's character's appeared remarkable different from past and present as well. Done in stark black and white ink, the artwork is a perfect match for this type of story and Case has captured the unremarkableness of the "ordinary guy" many serial killers appear to be to others. A fantastic read, a great introduction to the case, and a great new media through which to experience the case for those familiar with it. Recommended!

8. MAOH: Juveile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga

2012-01-15T07:31:00.001-05:00

MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga (US) - (Canada)
MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8

Pages: 192
Ages: 16+
Finished: Jan. 8, 2012
First Published: 2007, Japan (English: Dec. 13, 2011)
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, science fiction, fantasy
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Junya, are you gonna be able to go to school

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "Still trying to recover from the shock of -----'s death, Junya decides to follow in -----'s footsteps. First on the agenda is revenge on the ones who caused his death. Can Junya succeed where ---- failed...?"
{edited to take out the spoilers)

Up to this point Junya has not been much of a character, so I was completely surprised with the way he has taken the death of a previous main character and is stepping up to the plate to fill his shoes. This is an extremely action-packed, violent, raw emotion filled volume. Taking the story to new places I hadn't dreamt of. I had no idea Junya would enter into this underworld of assassins, dirty politicians and a god-complex vigilante with so much ease. A new and very interesting character, nicknamed "The Pusher" has been introduced but my prediction of an old character coming forward based on his appearance in the last few scenes of volume 7 and the fact that he is on the cover of this volume proved false. As Anderson is not even in this book! Why is he on the cover? The Pusher would have made a better cover pick, imho. Two more books in the series to go and I can't wait to find out how this all plays out!

7. The Translation of the Bones by Frances Kay

2012-01-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Translation of the Bones by Frances Kay (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 227
Ages: 18+
Finished: Jan. 8, 2012
First Published: (2011, UK) Jan. 3, 2012 US
Publisher: Scrbner
Genre: realistic fiction, Catholic, literary
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

It's beyond belief what you find between the pews, Mrs. Armitage was saying.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: The Catholic plot intrigued me as well as the author being an Orange Prize winner.

Publisher's Summary: Mary-Margaret O'Reilly is seemingly a harmless enough young woman, ready and willing to help out Father Diamond in the Sacred Heart church in Battersea. She may not be very bright, and she is sadly overweight, but she can certainly clean. She is also very good with children, and helps out an Asian woman on her estate whose little boy Shamso is adorable.

It is the statue of Jesus on the cross Mary-Margaret is especially drawn to, and one day she decides to give Him a thorough and loving cleansing. But then something strange happens, and moments later she lies unconscious, a great gash in her head, blood on the floor. Word gets out that this strange happening is the opening of the statue's eyes and the flowing of blood from its head. Soon a full-scale religious mania descends on the quiet church, and everyone, from Father Diamond to his small but loyal band of parishioners, is affected by it. When she has recovered, Mary-Margaret returns to the church, and to her duties caring for her housebound and even fatter mother Fidelma. Among the parishioners, Stella Morrison meanwhile impatiently awaits the return of her son Felix from boarding school, and Alice Armitage the return of her much older son from Afghanistan.

Mary-Margaret goes back obsessively to the statue of Jesus. He has told her things, things she must act on, and urgently. But He has become remote and uncommunicative once again, and she is in despair. The act she decides on is a shocking one, and it will bring together the lives of the O'Reillys and the Morrisons in a way that will change their lives forever.

Francesca Kay's second novel, after the prize-winning AN EQUAL STILLNESS, is at once a profound meditation on the nature of faith and motherhood and a riveting story of passion gone tragically wrong.

This is a story of faith; of faith tested, lost, denied, renewed and tragically misplaced. The story is dark and it is sad but it is not without hope and redemption. A short book, it makes for a quick read and the book is more about characters than it is about action. A couple of events take place and the majority of the book then ruminates on how the characters react to and deal with those events. The characters are all wonderful. An assortment of Catholics, lapsed Catholics and non-religious. Each is an entirely real person with faults and each one the reader can find sympathy with. The story revolves around a young-ish priest who is undergoing a small crisis of faith at the time of the first event and he feels as if this state of his mind has made him unable to respond in the way in which he should have done thus making his personal crisis of faith feel even more burdensome to him. The characters all find themselves asking questions about their faith, or lack of it, without being able to come to an answer that is not found in the faith itself. I enjoyed the portrayal of a parish community and found some of the thoughts and ideas to be true, while others I quite disagreed with. But on the main, I wholeheartedly found the story to be thought-provoking and stimulating, sad and dark, yes, but redemptive and full of the mystery of the faith.
One does not need to share the faith of these characters to enjoy the book, but only wish to journey with them as they travel the paths that all people traverse when they put their lives in the hands of a power greater than them.

6. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga

2012-01-13T06:07:00.000-05:00

MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga (US) - (Canada)
MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7

Pages: 188
Ages: 16+
Finished: Jan. 7, 2012
First Published: 2007, Japan (English: Oct. 11, 2011)
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, science fiction, fantasy
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

D*mn ... Why does ... this stupid ... measly power have ... such nasty side effects?!

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Publisher's Summary: "Weakened from fighting and overusing his powers, Ando heads for a final confrontation with Inukai. Ando will risk everything to stop Inukai from reaching his objectives, but is it enough? And when the dust settles, the world will be changed forever."

This is a pivotal book in the series. The first half is dark, intense and disturbing. We found out just how bad the bad guys are and the story arc that has been going since volume 1 comes to a conclusion. In the middle of the book, we are faced with "End of Act One" and immediately "Act Two" starts, wherein new characters pick up the pieces of the story arc. This is not exactly startling as the last volume gave us a preview of what to expect in this volume but plotwise we have an entirely new perspective to follow which keeps the story fresh and exciting. We also are now focusing on a new major character and it looks like a minor character up to this point will start to play a bigger role. This is one of the most exciting manga's I'm reading at the moment and once the last volume comes out this year (at vol. 10) I'll certainly be giving this one a re-read in the near future.

5. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6 by Hiroshi Shiibashi

2012-01-12T12:01:00.001-05:00

The House Where Jyami Wanders by Hiroshi Shiibashi (Canada) - (US)
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6

Pages: 199
Ages: 13+
Finished: Jan. 6, 2012
First Published: Dec. 6, 2011
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, fantasy, shonen
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

What's with all these posts?!

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: next in the series.

This was a great volume and why I keep reading this series! The first half of the book concludes the story arc involving the battle with Tamazuki and the Shikoku Clan of 88 Demons which is all very intense stuff. Then Rikuo's classmates are back and it's the beginning of summer vacation so the club goes off looking for Yokai. Kiyotsugu has secretly made arrangements for them to investigate a girl who is being haunted by a yokai named Jyami. I really enjoyed this side story which was open and shut during the course of the book and brought us a new yokai character, Jyami. This volume brings the best of both aspects of this series together: the yokai battles against Rikuo for leadership of the clan and Rikuo's human self with his classmate friends and the interesting yokai side stories. This volume ends with a very intense scene which shows us that things will be going in a new direction as someone we've never met before but have heard of will be the new protagonist in the next volume. Can't wait!

4. Who Cut the Cheese? by Jo Nesbo

2012-01-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

Who Cut the Cheese? by Jo Nesbo. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Translated by Tara Chase. (Canada) - (US)
Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, Book 3

Pages: 458
Ages: 8+
Finished: Dec. 27, 2011
First Published: 2010, Norway (English, Jan. 3, 2012)
Publisher: Aladdin
Genre: children, humour, science fiction
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

It was nighttime in Oslo, Norway, and it was snowing.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: next (and, I'm guessing, last) in the series.

Simple enough plot: Lisa and Nilly figure out that most of Norway has been hypnotized by space aliens whose ultimate goal is to take over the world so they can use humans as food. They alert Dr. Proctor and the three of them, with the aid of several others who have not been hypnotized set out to stop the dastardly aliens before they can invade Denmark and set their world domination plan into action.

Hilarious! I read this book in two sittings and enjoyed it probably the most of all three books. There are no references to book 2 at all except for mention of Dr. P's lady friend who is still in France and not a character in this book, so there is no need to have read the books in order. I do recommend at least having read book 1 though as it explains the whole Fart Powder background, while this book just assumes you know the power of the invention. Also, the American publishers make a big deal of the "fart" allusions in the title of these books , but except for book 1 there is very little toilet humour within the books at all once you get past the idea of "fart powder". The name of this book in Norwegian is "Doctor Proctor and Armageddon. Maybe." which is an appropriate title while "Who Cut the Cheese?" is simply a marketing gimmick. However ...

The story is deliciously funny. Nilly and Lisa are fantastic kid characters, with strange families and even stranger classmates and teachers. We have a few new characters along for the ride this time who add a new dimension to the team but as usual, Nilly and Lisa are the only main kid characters. The plot is way-out there silly and Doctor Proctor as usual has a few fun inventions to help them out. If you've enjoyed the other books in this series, you'll love this one! To me, there is a finality to the book which makes me think this may be the last book in the series. If so, I'm happy to leave the characters here and have enjoyed my time with them. For younger children, I suggest you just read books 1 & 3 and leave book 2 for older children who have some historical knowledge/interest in France.

3. The Dead Zone by Stephen King

2012-01-10T06:46:00.000-05:00

The Dead Zone by Stephen King (US) - (Canada)

Pages: 402
Ages: 18+
Finished: Jan. 5, 2012
First Published: 1979
Publisher: Signet
Genre: paranormal, mystery, crime
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

The two things Sarah remembered about that night later were his run of luck at the Wheel of Fortune and the mask.

Acquired: Purchased a used copy from a thrift store.

Reason for Reading: I am re/reading Stephen King's books in chronological publishing order. This was my next book. I have also gotten into the habit of starting my year off with a Stephen King novel.

I was really looking forward to this one. I have fond memories of really enjoying the book. I have only read it once before which was this exact paperback copy and I would have been 12 at the time. I don't really remember the story from the book, though, as I have flashes of scenes from the movie with Christopher Walken in my head, some which actually don't even happen in the book. And I was a fan of the TV series which was loosely based on the same premise as the book. So it was great to re-read the original and get the real story firmly planted in my head again.

Excluding the Bachman books, up to this date "The Dead Zone" was King's first non-horror story. This is a story about a psychic and involves him solving a serial killer case and later on facing a prediction that he must decide whether he should take care of the problem before it happens and contemplates that age old hypothetical question, "If you could go back to 1932, knowing what you now know, would you murder Adolph Hitler?" The book carries a rather small cast, comparitively for a King book and we get to know Johnny, the main character, very well. He is very likable and someone we can relate to throughout the book. This book kept me up late at night as I just didn't want to put it down and had virtually forgotten how the book ended though it wasn't hard to predict. King uses very little stream of consiousness in this book; it is a plot driven novel with great character insight and a fast read. I loved it even more than I expected to! Great early King!

While re-reading these books, I also like to look for the connections to previous books and found three while reading. A girl actually mentions the book "Carrie", there is a street named Flagg (a nod to Randall Flagg from The Stand) and the town of Jerusalem's Lot is mentioned. (otherwise known as 'Salem's Lot).

If you are not really into horror books but would like to sample Stephen King, this is an excellent book for your first read and fans can't miss out on this classic old-school King novel.

I'll be adding the Christopher Walken movie to my viewing list and have planned for some time to watch the dvd seasons of the TV show in order as I was only a now and then watcher. But of course, I have to watch The Stand first and get my current TV Seasons finished first!

2. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5 by Hiroshi Shiibashi

2012-01-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

A Yokai With Wings Darker Than Night by Hiroshi Shiibashi (Canada) - (US)
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5

Pages: 192
Ages: 13+
Finished: Jan. 4, 2012
First Published: Oct. 4, 2011
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, fantasy,
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

Wah!! So cold!!

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: next in the series.

It's been a while since I read the last one so it took me a bit to get into this volume but this manga does start off with the list of characters and a brief "The Story So Far" which help to put you back into the plot. This volume is quite heavy with battles and the inside politics of the Yokai Clan. Rikuo has to prove his place as the leader of the clan while his grandfather is away and make his own loyalties within the clan rather than counting on existing ones. He is up against Tamazuki still, who finally shows his true Yokai form and Rikuo and he do battle one on one leaving the book ending on an intense note. Enjoyable as far as the action goes, though little happens with character development, there is only a small storyline involving one of his classmates and I'd like to see more mixture of the two. A fast read and a good ending which will have me reading vol. 6 right away.

1. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

2012-01-08T06:54:00.001-05:00

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel (US) - (Canada)
Frog and Toad, 1
An I Can Read Book, Level 2

Pages: 64
Ages: 6+
Finished: Jan. 3, 2012
First Published: 1970
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: children, easy reader, animal fantasy
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Frog ran up the path to Toad's house.

Acquired: Purchased a new copy from a homeschool retailer.
Reason for Reading: Son read aloud to me as his reader.

The first book in the Frog and Toad series and a Caldecott honor winner this book introduces us to the now classic characters with the familiar format of five short stories of their friendship. Of two different natures, they bring out the best in each other and enjoy life and nature to the fullest. The simple stories will delight young and old alike. My son, now on the old side for these books, but just at the perfect reading level for him, still enjoys the simple, honest humour found within the pages. He enjoyed this book and wants to read the last one we still have left in the series to read. A perennial favourite and a keeper for my shelves!

291. Vampires and Cells by Agnieszka Biskup

2012-01-07T07:59:00.000-05:00

Vampires and Cells by Agnieszka Biskup. Illustrated by Jok (US) - (Canada)
Graphic Library, Monster Science series

Pages: 30
Ages: 8+
Finished: Dec. 31, 2011
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Capstone Press
Genre: children, science, biology, graphic novel, non-fiction
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

The world is full of living things.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I am fond of this publisher.

This is a new series by the publisher combining monsters and science. This book explains in detail the science of cells. The narrative is written in blocks of text while the pictures and comic balloons add humour to the information. The book is written at a low reading level (3-4) but information wise it is detailed enough to be useful up to Grade 9. In fact, I think the text may be a little dry for the younger age range of students unless they are already interested in the topic or studying it. I enjoyed the other book in this series I read better, Aliens and Energy, as it portrayed the aliens as the goofy instructors. This book comes off as having an unknown instructor speaking to us while a dimwitted vampire is in the background asking questions and making comic remarks. The illustrations are also not up to par with those by Aon in the other book. However, it accomplishes what it aims to do; introducing the science of cells with humour and would make a good addition to a classroom library.

290. Dragon Seer's Gift by Janet McNaughton

2012-01-06T06:45:00.001-05:00

Dragon Seer's Gift by Janet McNaughton. (Canada) only
Sequel to Dragon Seer

Pages: 282
Ages: 11+
Finished: Dec. 27, 2011
First Published: Aug. 16, 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins Canada
Genre: YA, fantasy,
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

Safe in his red-brick lair in the heart of the city, the dragon dreams, nose to toes, his tail draped over his neck like a scarf.

Acquired: Borrowed a copy from my local library.

Reason for Reading: next (and last) in the series.

I really enjoyed Dragon Seer and was thrilled to find out McNaughton had written a sequel. This is a sequel with a finite ending, not just another book in an ongoing series so the two make a nice companion read. Dragon Seer's Gift takes place centuries after the first book and only contains one continuous character. Events from the first book are heavily mentioned and integral to the story, so it is important to read them in order. This time the book is set in the present, and two teenage siblings who are ancestors of the characters from the first book have had the dragon legend carried down to them. When they start to research the family history for a school project they find an old key that unlocks an ancient secret that puts them next in line for the prophecy to save the world.

This was a fast read and I must say I enjoyed it even more than the first book probably because the obscure history is missing this time. The first book is more about the dragons and a historical fantasy, while this one is more of a fantasy quest where the heroes must race against time to save the world. The historical element is still there through the family research and a family friend who is an archaeologist. Mostly we are looking at the Vikings and the Picts. I found the two main characters 12yo Gwyn and his older sister Maddie to be interesting, likable and real teens. Each had their own problems and yet they were from a close knit family keeping the usual sibling squabbling out of this book, as they looked out for each other. The issue of bullying was also met from four different angles as both Gwyn & Maggie are bullied in different ways, as well as a Norwegian immigrant and we get to know one character who starts off as a bully.

Set in Newfoundland, I enjoyed the Canadian flavour to the story. The mixture of history, dragons, magic, science and the environment made for a page-turning plot while the memorable characters were endearing and made one care how things would turn out. I also enjoyed how the book ended realistically with the plot tied up, but also with the characters' future lives left to the imagination.

289. Aliens and Energy by Agnieszka Biskup

2012-01-05T10:52:00.000-05:00

Aliens and Energy by Agnieszka Biskup. Illustrated by Aon (US) - (Canada)
Graphic Library, Monster Science series

Pages: 30
Ages: 8+
Finished: Dec. 30, 2011
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Capstone Press
Genre: children, science, chemistry, physics, graphic novel, non-fiction
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

Have you ever wondered how birds fly, fish swim, or aliens fly through space?

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I am fond of this publisher.

This is a new series by the publisher combining monsters and science. This book has a couple of aliens in their spaceship telling us about matter, then energy. The information is quite detailed and is suitable for up to grade 9 and yet the book is entertaining enough for the much younger grade 3. I absolutely love the artwork in this book and it is really what holds the title together. The text is detailed and informative but can be dry and technical at times, especially if you are not particularly interested in the topic to begin with. BUT the illustrations tell a humorous story behind the narrative as the aliens demonstrate the concepts and get into all sorts of mishaps, not to mention just plain scaring the wits out of people. Humour and science go hand in hand in this book that would make a great classroom resource.

288. Riptide Pride by Brandon Terrell

2012-01-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

Riptide Pride by Brandon Terrell. Illustrated by Fernando Cano (Canada) - (US)
Sports Illustrated Kids Graphic Novels

Pages: 50
Ages: 10+
Finished: Dec. 28, 2011
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: YA, graphic novel, easy reader, sports
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

My whole life has been spent fifty yards from the ocean.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: This is a great hi/lo series for reluctant male readers.

You couldn't find a person less interested in sports than me, but I really look forward to reading the books in this series. Once again, "Riptide Pride" matches the quality of the others in the series. Written at a low reading level (1.5) or GRL (J) it will appeal to boys up into their mid-teens. The characters in this book are all 14 yo. The story revolves around a boy known to be a great surfer who is bullied by the school braggart into competing with him to prove who is the best surfer. Things take a turn for the worse when the braggart moves out to the rock infested no surfing zone. An exciting story with realistic teens combined with comic book quality art are sure to keep reluctant sports minded teens reading.

287. Tony Hawk's 900 Revolution #1 by Donnie Lemke

2012-01-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

Drop In by Donnie Lemke. Illustrated by Caio Majado (US) - (Canada)
Tony Hawk's 900 Revolution, Vol. 1

Pages: 121
Ages: 10+
Finished: Dec. 27, 2011
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: children, YA, sports, fantasy
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

"Bleck! You call this a fish taco?!" shouted Tommy Goff, spitting out chunks of tortilla and battered sea bass onto the Imperial Beach Pier.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I'm always willing to give a Stone Arch book a try.

I wasn't quite sure what I was in for with this book as I know nothing about skateboarding. The book is most certainly written for a targeted audience of skateboarders and the whole lingo is there, leaving me scratching my head at times but I'm sure those in the know would find the characters authentic. This did take me a while to get into the story but once I got used to both the skateboarding and Southern California slang "gnarly ollie, dude!" I settled into the book and actually enjoyed the story. We have realistic teens, two boys both living with a single parent mother, one whose father just took off one day when he was small. The other, our main character, Omar, whose father was presumed killed in a dangerous surfing accident a few years back. The boys find themselves the target of a secret organization who have chosen Omar to be the one to collect the pieces of a magic skateboard, once belonging to Tony Hawk, and put them back together again.

Surprisingly, I had a fun time reading this and am sure the targeted audience, pre- and young skateboarding teens will love the fast-paced adventure and classic fantasy quest. The first four volumes have been published and each one focuses on a new recruit to the organization called "Revolution". The book is all text except for a short graphic sequence at the beginning and a much longer graphic sequence as the plot nears its climax. Fun and recommended for reluctant readers.

286. Power at the Plate by Scott Ciencin

2012-01-02T13:56:00.000-05:00

Power at the Plate by Scott Ciencin. Art by Zoar Huerto. (Canada) - (US)
Sports Illustrated Kids Graphic Novels (Baseball)

Pages: 50
Ages: 10+
Finished: Dec. 26, 2011
First Published: Aug. 1, 2011
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: YA, children, graphic novel, easy reader, sports
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

WHOOSH! Did you feel that?

Acquired: Received a review copy from Capstone Press.

Reason for Reading: I have read a couple of books from this series and was very impressed with them.

This series of hi-lo easy readers for reluctant readers or those with LDs is impressive in it's execution. Appealing to young to mid-teens this story centres round two step brothers who do not get along, ages 14 & 15, they play on the same baseball team with the eldest receiving all the glory. The youngest is a good player but he feels as if no one ever pays any attention to him as he's always living in his brother's shadow so he sets out to destroy his brothers lucky charm and prove he can play a good game and get the attention himself.

Typical teen situation, behaviour and language. An uneasy relationship is worked out through honesty and good sportsmanship in the end. The story will appeal up to age 15 and yet the reading level is very low, listed at RL: 1.6 and GRL: J. A well worked out, interesting story, that will appeal to its targeted audience.

2012 Goals

2012-01-01T10:36:00.003-05:00

Last year was the first time I set up goals for myself and while I didn't complete them all I did stay on track and have decided to continue the practice so I can make headway with long term goals in short spurts. So these are my goals for 2012:

This is not a goal but a pledge:
I will not start any new series this year, unless it is a 2012 release by an author I keep up to date with.

1) Last year I worked on reading all Shane Peacock's backlist while keeping up with his new releases. I only have two books from his backlist left to read (eta: after looking at these lat two rather large non-fiction books I've decided to call my reading of Peacock 'a fait au complet'). Then I'd like to complete Kenneth Oppel's backlist while keeping up with his new releases. I mostly just have Oppel's picturebooks and his latest novel to read, but there are and could be a couple more. This goal is very do-able I think.

2) Graphic Novel series. Previously I've set a year aside each for Fables and then Bone. This year rather than work on a new series I'd like to read like, say, Sandman, Girl Genius, or Tin-Tin, I'm going to work on finishing or catching up with the series that I already have on the go (which are quite a few). Plus for new single non-series titles I will be digging into First Second's backlist. They are one of my favourite graphic publishers and I've only read their stuff from the last few years.

3) In my personal project of Reading Around the World where I am reading books from all the provinces, states, and countries I made great strides with foreign countries in 2011 but failed to add one single Canadian province. So this year I'd like to finish the Canadian provinces, since I only have two left, Northwest Territories (I already have my book chosen) and PEI (I don't want the obvious LM Montgomery).

4) In my personal project of re/reading Stephen King's books in chronological order I'm happy with last year's progress. This year I'd like to at least read the next 2 which are The Dead Zone and Firestarter. My progress is listed in the sidebar on the right.

5) For the second year in a row my Newbery Challenge has been a flop. I've read only the new winner each year. So for 2012 I will once again try to read more than just the new winner! Even one more and I'll be ahead.

6) My personal Random Reading Bookshelf Challenge was another flop. Not only did I not read the whole shelf, nor did I read most, many, a lot or some. I read 6. A whole six! And out of those 6 I moved 2 out of the house. I had a ton of fun reading those 6 random books though and will continue on with the challenge and actually try to get somewhere with it this year!

7) I started two non-fiction chunksters in 2011: "Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska" and "Catechism of the Catholic Church". Quite heavy reading in these tomes, though I'll say Saint Faustina's diary is easy going, though spiritually exhausting. The Catechism is something I expect to be reading my whole life, just like the Bible, so I'm in no hurry for this once through from beginning to end, but would like to make some decent headway this year. I am currently on page 61/756. I would like to set the "Diary" as my chunkster of the year to finish and will read at least a few pages each evening so that I can complete it by the end of 2012. It has 692 pages of small print.

8) And finally! This year I'm going to try and go with the flow. This is what is missing in my reading. If a book makes me want to read something else I will go down that rabbit trail and not let any of the above "goals" get in my way. Sometimes one book leads to another, leads to another, leads to another (whether they be by the same author, about the same topic, mentioned in the book, whatever) and it is fun to let yourself get carried down these trails and I've been writing the books down as tbr but not getting to them lately. So goal number 8 is to throw caution to the wind and give myself permission to chill and ignore the previous 7 goals if I 'wanna'! So there!

2012 ARC Master List

2012-01-01T09:22:00.033-05:00

My list of arcs currently not read and in possession as of Dec. 31, 2011.

(ebooks are not included in this list. I don't really consider them books; they are files. The majority of my egalleys come from Netgalley, and they expire after a certain date anyway, so they do take care of themselves, making a lot of them different from the below books. I do however, count them in my books read list.)

2009
1. Portobello by Ruth Rendell
2. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro
3. Etta by Gerald Kolpan
4. Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean
5. Cemetery Dance by Douglas Prestan
6. The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
7. Map of the Invisible World by Tash Aw
8. Valeria's Last Stand by Marc Fitten
9. The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville
10. The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox
11. The Glass of Time by Michael Cox
12. Intertwined by Gina Showalter
13. Ghost Song by Sarah Rayne
14. Evidence of Murder by Lisa Black
15. Voices in the Dark by Catherine Banner
16. Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown
17. Spellbinder by Helen Springer
18. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
19. I am Not a Psychic by Richard Belzer
20. Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4, Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

2010:
21. The Time Pirate by Ted Bell
22. The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge by Patricia Duncker
23. The Whisperers by John Connoly
24. Fish by Gregory Mone
25. A Small Death in the Great Glen by A.D. Scott
26. Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
27. Red Glove by Holly Black
28. No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve
29. Essential Modern Classics: The Rescuers by Margery Sharp
30. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell
31. The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story by Rudyard Kipling
32. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
33. The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby
34. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
35. Essential Modern Classics: Ballet Shoes for Anna by Noel Streatfield
36. Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
37. The Action Bible
38. Started Early Took my Dog For a Walk by Kate Atkinson
39. Sparrow Road by Shelia O'Connor
40. Agatha H #9
41. Virals by Kathy Reichs
42. The Anatomy of Ghosts by
43. Peter and Max by Bill Willingham
44. A Lonely Death by Charles Todd

2011:
45. It's a Snap: George Eastman's First Photograph by Monica Kulling
46. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
47. Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer
48. Bink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones
49. The Hunt of the Unicorn by C.C. Humphreys
50. The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady by Elizabeth Stuckey-French
51. The Fifth Rule by Don Akers
52. How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain
53. Mind Gap by Marina Cohen
54. Miracleville by
55. No Safe Haven by Kimberley Woodhouse
56. Saye: Winter on Valiku by Hasani Walker
57. Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
58. mothers & daughters by Rae Meadows
59. The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker
60. That Boy Red by Rachna Gilmore
61. The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
62. Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne
63. Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison
64. True (...sort of) by Katherine Hannigan
65. Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein
66. Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan
67. In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Eric Larson
68. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
69. Lot's Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan
70. The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen
71. Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon
72. Kiss Her,Kill Her by Lisa Dewar
73. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy
74. The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
75. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson
76. Forbidden by Ted Dekker
77. Pure by Julianna Baggot
78. This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
79. Season of Darkness by Maureen Jennings
80. Darkness, My Old Friend: A Novel by Lisa Unger
81. The Accident: A Thriller by Linwood Barclay
82. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
83. Inheritance by Lisa Baker
84. Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
85. Ashtown Burials #1: The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson
86. Viper by John J. Desjarlais
87. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
88. The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
89. Headhunters by Jo Nesbo
90. The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
91. The Postmortal by Drew Magary
92. Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman
93. Salamander Smackdown! by John Sazaklis
94. Superpowered Pony by Sarah Hines Stephens
95. The Missing Mummy by Sean O'Reilly
96. Monster Beach by Sean O'Reilly
97. How Do We Know About Dinosaurs? A Fossil Mystery by Rebecca Olien
98. How Do We Stay on Earth? A Gravity Mystery by Amy S. Hansen
99. The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy
100. Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
101. The Downside of Being Up by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
102. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga
103. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
104. Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
105. The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson & John Paterson
106. Burned by Thomas Enger
107. The Infernals by John Connolly
108. Dreamland by Alyson Noel
109. The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
110. Before the Poison by Peter Robinson
111. The Alphabet of Vietnam by Jonathan Chamberlain
112. The Tin Ticket: The Heroic Journey of Australia's Convict Women by Deborah J. Swiss
113. Vincent Shadow: Toy Inventor by Tim Kehoe
114. The Shattering by Karen Healing
115. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
116. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7 by Hiroyuki Asada
117. Wicked Good by Amy Lewis Faircloth
118. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga
119. Graphic Classics: African-American Classics edited by Tom Pomplun
120. A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison
121. Bound by Antonya Nelson
122. Who Cut the Cheese? by Jo Nesbo
123. The Translation of Bones by Francesca Kay
124. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinamoroll, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tsukirino
125. The Serial Killer Whisperer by Pete Earley
126. The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton
127. The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill
128. Fever by Lauren DeStephano
129. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce
130. Rebirth by Dave Longeuay
131. Out of Slavery: The Journey to Amazing Grace by Linda Granfield
132. The Green Man by Michael Bedard
133. X: 3-in-1, Vol.1 by CLAMP

Books added after the beginning of the year:
135. Judge Anderson: The Psychic Files by Alan Grant
136. Titanic 2012: Revised & Updated by Bill Walker
137. A Note From An Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker
138. Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon
139. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
140. Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
141. Making Bombs for Hitler by Marsha Skrypuch
142. Behind Enemy Lines: World War II, Sam Frederiksen, Nazi-Occupied Europe, 1944 by Carol Matas
143. Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1941 by Susan Aihoshi
144. Kepler's Dream by Juliet Bell
145. Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
146. Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor
147. Catholic Sexual Ethics by William E. May
148. The Secret World of Arrietty, Vol. 1
149. The Secret World of Arrietty, Vol. 2
150. Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer
151. Dead to You by Lisa McMann
152. Library Wars, Vol. 7 by Kiiro Yumi
153. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 8 by Hiroyuki Asada
154. A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
155. The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
156. A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwell Story of Survival by Julie Hedgepeth Williams
157. E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! by William Joyce
158. The Rough Guide to The Titanic by Greg Ward
159. Bone: Quest for the Spark, Book Two by Tom Sniegoski
160. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 9 by Megumi Osuga
161. Judge Dredd: Crusade & Frankenstein Division by Grant Morrison
162. Catch Me by Lisa Gardner
163. Story World Create-A-Story Kit: Quests & Adventures by John & Caitlin Matthews
164. Zig and Wikki in The Cow by Nadja Spiegelman & Trade Loeffler
165. Vincent Shadow: The Top Secret Toys by Tim Kehoe
166. Beyonders #2: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandom Mull
167. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 2 by Yumi Tsukirino
168. Story of the Titanic by DK Publishing
169. Welcome to Silverstreet Farm by Nicola Davies
170. The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
171. Black Manta and the Octopus Army by Jane Mason
172. Joker on the High Seas by J.E. Bright
173. Lex Luthor and the Kryptonite Caverns by J.E. Bright
174. Too Short for the Court by Amy J. Lemke
175. The Quick Quarterback by Michelle Lord
176. Stegosaurus: Armored Defender by Kathryn Clay
177. Tyrannosaurus Rex: Mighty Meat-Eater by Sheila Hammer
178. Volcanoes! by Renee Gray-Wilburn
179. Earthquakes! by Renee Gray-Wilburn
180. Super-Pets Showdown by Sarah Hines Stephens
181. Starro and the Space Dolphins by Art Baltazar
182. The Amazing Mini-Mutts by Donald Lemke
183. How the Camel Got His hump by Louise Simonson
184. How The Leopard Got His Spots by Sean Tulien
185. Tall: Great American Folktales (The Comics Anthology) edited by Donald Lemke
186. The Secret Life of Plants! by Janet Slingerland
187. The Lonely Existence of Asteroids and Comets by Mark Weakland
188. Egypt's Mysterious Pyramids by Agnieszka Biskup
189. Captured by Pirates! by Agnieszka Biskup
190. Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore
191. Dante's Inferno: The Graphic Novel by Joseph Lanzara
192.

2012 Master Challenge List

2011-12-31T13:13:00.003-05:00

Challenges I've joined. This will continuously be updated throughout the year and can be reached from the sidebar link on the right. I only join challenges that run year long and that cover a certain type of book that I figure I read any way. This way my reading and the challenges fit together and I don't have to search out books for the challenges as they are already in my tbrs.

Memorable Memoirs 2012 - read 1-4 memoirs, autobiographies, diaries, letters, etc.

Read Dystopia Challenge 2012 - read 7-10 dystopian or post-apocalyptic

2012 ARC Reading Challenge - read 35 or more ARCs

Victorian Challenge 2012 - anything Victorian, books or movies, total of 2-6

2012 Picture Book Reading Challenge - read 24 picture books

The Telling Tales Reading Challenge 2012 - read 10+ fairytales/mythology anything goes

Clocks, Cogs, and Mechanisms Reading Challenge 2012 - read 1-3 steampunk books

War Through the Generations: WWI - read 1-3 books with WWI as a theme

100th Anniversary Titanic Reading Challenge - read/watch 6 Titanic related books/movies

A to Z Challenge V (2012) - read a book thaat begins with every letter of the alphabet for title and author for a total of 52 books

I'm currently involved in these perpetual challenges or projects:

Chronological Stephen King - I started this project in 2007, hit a snag a few years ago, then last year started off 2011 by reading a Stephen King book which helped me get going again nicely. This is a long term project for me. I have no goals of how many I'll read a year or when I'll finish it. I'd just like to at least read one book a year (if not more). This year, I'm again going to start January off with the next Stephen King book so as soon as I've finished whatever book \i'm currently reading. My first Jan. 2012 book will be "The Dead Zone". Besides reading the books, I also go off on side trips to watch certain movies (not all because some of the old ones are pretty dumb) and read graphic novels based on the books I'm reading. This currently leaves me in the middle of reading "The Stand" graphic novels and I have "The Stand" mini series still to watch.

1. Carrie
2. 'Salem's Lot
3. Rage
4. The Shining
5. Night Shift
6. The Stand
7. The Long Walk
8. The Dead Zone
9. Firestarter

Newbery Challenge (ongoing) - I intend on continuing this never-ending quest to read all the Newbery winners. However this year, unlike last year (and the year before), I pledge to read more than just the new winner ;-P
see progress here

Geographical Project - see progress here
"I will make a conscious effort to finish the Canadian provinces this year as every Canadian book I naturally read takes place in the same set of provinces and I only have two left to finish this stage of the project. I should also try and pay better attention to where novels take place, as I seem to have read all the 'popular' places, and most books continue to take place in these same states/countries." This is what I said at the beginning of 2011 and I still have those 2 Canadian Provinces left, so this year I will finish them off; I already have one book lined up. Otherwise I'm making good progress as faar as the States and Countries are going.

The Random Reading Bookshelf Project - Hoping to do better than last year's reading of 6 books and removing 2 of those from the house :-( see progress here

Finished in 2012

2nds Challenge 2012 - read 3 books that are either the 2nd in a series or the 2nd book you've read by the author. (FINISHED)

1. Dragon Seer's Gift by Janet McNaughton (2nd series & 2nd author)
2. No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve (2nd by author)
3. The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton (2nd series & 2nd author)

Graphic Novels Challenge 2012 - read 12 graphic novels (FINISHED)

1. Power at the Plate by Scott Ciencin
2. Riptide Pride by Brandon Terrell
3. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
4. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6 by Hiroshi Shiibashi
5. MOAH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga
6. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga
7.Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen
8. Super Dinosaur, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman
9. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen
10. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7 by Hiroyuki Asada
11. African American Classics (Graphic Classics, Vol. 22)
12. Jellaby by Kean Soo

2011 Read Your Own Books Challenge ~ FINISHED

2011-12-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

Here is the perfect challenge for me! There is no limit to the number of books to read either so if I go obsessive with it I won't feel like the nerd sticking out of the crowd! Dates from now to year end. Dec. 31 2011.

The Challenge is hosted by Jamie @ For the Love of... and the sign-up and rules are here.

This fits in perfectly with goal #4 on my Goals for 2011 list. I've already randomly picked a bookshelf. I decided to pick from my Juv/YA shelves to make the goal more realistic and I picked the bottom shelf on the left because I couldn't see what was on it. The shelf is in a dark spot. The shelf is double stacked with books squeezed in for maximum use of space with no order, rhyme or reason to what is shelved together, though I do try to keep series books together.

So I will include these books, any book I already own and the backlog books from my 2009 ARC list only. Books currently owned as of now from my 2010 backlog ARC list and current ARC list will not count for this challenge. Just a little incentive imposed on myself to move the older books along.

2011 Read Your Own Books Challenge (Feb. 17 - Dec. 31. 2011)

1. Toy Story: The Mysterious Stranger by Dan Jolley
x. Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
2. The Hollow People by Briank Keaney
x. Animal Hospital by Judith Walker Hodge
3. The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn
4. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
5. Dragon Seer by Janet McNaughton
6. Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey
7. Journey to America by Sonia Levitin
8. Plenty of Fish by Millicent Selsam
9. The Cay by Theodore Taylor
10. The Seventh Princess by Nick Sullivan
11. The Joy of Being a Catholic Child by Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
12. Assassin: The Lady Grace Mysteries #1 by Patricia Finney
13. High Flight: A Story of World War II by Linda Granfield
xx. Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel
14. The Mass for Children by Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
15. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
16. Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
17. Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
18. Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
19. The Gates by John Connolly
20. Little Henry to the Rescue by Eleanor Graham
21. Genesis by Bernard Beckett
22. John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader by the Editors of TIME for Kids
23. Canadian Starters (Moose, Beaver, Emily Carr & Alexander Graham Bell) by various
24. Yokaiden, Vol. 1 by Nina Matsumoto
25. Yokaiden, Vol. 2 by Nina Matsumoto
26. The Imposter's Daughter by Laurie Sandell
27. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
28. Bone 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith
29. If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine
30. Bone 2: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith
31. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
32. Bone 3: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith
33. The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of The Little Flower by St. Therese of Lisieux
34. Hanako and the Terror of Allegory, Vol. 3 by Sakae Esuno
35. Chi's Sweet Home, vol. 2 by Konami Kanata
36. Arthur's Honey Bear by Lillian Hoban
37. Twin Spica, Vol. 2 by Kou Yaginuma
38. Batman Returns: The Penquin's Plot by Michael Teitelbaum
39. Human Body by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
40. Canada's Maple Leaf: The Story of Our Flag by Ann-Maureen Owens & Jane Yealland
41. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
42. Fables #15: Rose Red by Bill Willingham
43. Jack of Fables #8: The Fulminate Blade by Bill Willingham
44. The Boxcar Children #2: Surprise Island by Gertrude Chandler Warner
45. The Beginner's Bible illustrated by Kelly Pulley
46. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
47. The Long Walk by Stephen King as Richard Bachman
48. Mother Teresa: In My Own Words by Mother Teresa
49. Bone #4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith
50. Bone #5: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith
51. Marvin Redpost #1: Kidnapped at Birth? by Louis Sachar
52. Bone #6: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith
53. Bob and Shirley: A Tale of Two Lobsters by Harriet Ziefert
54. Everything is Grace: The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux by Joseph F. Scmidt, FSC
55. Nola's Worlds #1: Changing Moon by Mathieu Mariolle
56. Canada, Our History: An Album Through Time by Rick Archbold
57. Nola's World #2: Ferrets and Ferreting Out by Mathieu Mariolle
58. Nola's World #3 Evem for a Dreamer Like Me by Mathieu Mariolle
59. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O. by David Adler
60. Small Pig by Arnold Lobel
61. Down the Yukon by Will Hobbs
62. My First Catechism by Father Lovasik
63. Gargoyles: Monsters in Stone by Jennifer Dussling
64: Bone 7: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith
65. Bone 8: Treasure Hunters by Jeff Smith
66. Upchuck and Rotten Willy: Running Wild by Bill Wallace
67. Uncle Elephant by Arnold Lobel
68. Bone 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith
69. Bone: Rose by Jeff Smith
70. Tommy O'Toole and Larry by Anna D. Cordts

Movies/DVDs/TV Seasons/Concerts Watched in 2012

2011-12-31T12:58:00.001-05:00

This is a running list for the year. The list will include the movie and indicate whether it is a re-watch otherwise it can be assumed it was my first time watched.

(the year)(owned/rental/library/borrowed/theatre/Netflixed) and a brief review which could be just one word such as good, great, just OK, whatever. If I feel like expounding on the review I will. No rules here just a list with a bit of extra information. I will also note which ones I watched with my 11yo/12yo by starting off with a red (#).

January:

1. Mission: Impossible IV Ghost Protocol - (2011) (theatre) I don't have a lot to say about this. Dh and I went to see it on date night. We enjoyed it. Of course. We both like Tom Cruise (for different reasons, hehe) The movie was just what you'd expect but I didn't enjoy it as much as the others. It was just more *tame*. It certainly deserved its PG rating; we could have taken our son to see it. Their was lots of action but no real violence and Tom didn't even have a love interest! So no sexy bits. But still I loved the action. We enjoyed our time.

2.

Books Read in 2012

2011-12-31T12:54:00.061-05:00

Books Read in 2012

Titles in green were read aloud to or by my 11/12yo.

January: 33 books
1. Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel (5/5)
2. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 5 by Hiroshi Shiibashi (3/5)
3. The Dead Zone by Stephen King (5/5)
4. Who Cut the Cheese? by Jo Nesbo (5/5)
5. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 6 by Hiroshi Shiibashi (5/5)
6. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7 by Megumi Osuga (5/5)
7. The Translation of Bones by Frances Kay (4/5)
8. MAOH: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 8 by Megumi Osuga (5/5)
9. Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen (4/5)
10. No Such Thing As Dragons by Philip Reeve (3/5)
11. Super Dinosaur, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman (4/5)
12. 50 Underwear Questions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi (4/5)
13. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen (4/5)
14. Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Mary M. Talbot & Bruce Talbot (4/5)
15. The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton (4/5)
16. 14 Valentine Puzzles by The Garbachuck Family (5/5)
17. Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 7 by Hiroyuki Asada (5/5)
18. African-American Classics: Graphic Classics, Vol. 22 edited by Tom Pomplun & Lance Took (4/5)
19. It's a Snap! George Eastman's First Photograph by Monica Kulling (5/5)
20. The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill (5/5)
21. 101 Puzzle Quizzes by The Garbachuck Family (5/5)
22. Out of Slavery: The Journey to Amazing Grace by Linda Granfield (5/5)
23. Jellaby by Kean Soo (3/5)
24. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce (4/5)
25. Shot at Dawn by John Wilson (4/5)
26. Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo (3/5)
27. Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan (4/5)
28. Crogan's Loyalty by Chris Schweizer (4/5)
29. The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby (4/5)
30. The Yellow House Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner (5/5)
31.The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (4/5)
32. The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett (2/5)
33. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 1 by Yumi Tsukirino (3/5)

Feb:
34. The Flint Heart by Katherine & John Paterson (3/5)
35. Titanic 2012 by Bill Walker (5/5)
36. Women of the Titanic Disaster by Sylvia Caldwell (3/5)
37. How Do We Know About Dinosaurs? A Fossil Mystery by Rebecca Olien (3/5)
38. How Do We Stay on Earth? A Gravity Mystery by Amy S. Hansen (3/5)
39. Dragonbreath: No Such Thing as Ghosts by Ursula Vernon (4/5)
40. Monster Beach by Scott O'Reilly (4/5)
41. The Missing Mummy by Scott O'Reilly (4/5)
42.Horrid Henry's Underpants by Fransesca Simon (4/5)
43. Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies by Ursula Vernon (4/5)
44. X (3-in-1), Vol. I by CLAMP (3/5)
45. Dungeon of Seven Dooms by Michael Dahl (3/5)
46. Brundibar by Tony Kushner & Maurice Sendak (5/5)
47. All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann (5/5)
48. Judge Anderson: The Psychic Crime Files by Alan Grant (5/5)
49. Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor (4/5)
50. Prisoner in the Land of Promise by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (5/5)
51. Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks (5/5)
52. Diver Down by Donald Lemke (4/5)
53. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs (4/5)
54. Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (3/5)
55. StoryWorld: Quests & Adventures by John & Caitlin Matthews (5/5)
56. Brothers Far From Home by Jean Little (4/5)
57. The Secret World of Arrietty, Vol. 1 by Studio Ghibli (4/5)
58. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne (4/5)
59. Torso: A True Crime Graphic Novel by Michael ??
60. Superpowered Pony by Sarah Hines Stephens (3/5)
61. Zig and Wikki in the Cow by Nadja Spiegelman (5/5)
62. The Secret World of Arietty, Vol. 2 by Studio Ghibli (4/5)
63. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (5/5)
64. A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells' Story of Survival by Julie Hedgepeth Williams (4/5)
65. The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans by Rick Geary (3/5)
66.

Countries, States & Provinces 2011 Update

2011-12-31T12:51:00.000-05:00

Here are my stats on reading around the world during 2011.

Canada - 11 provinces/territories - as of Dec. 31, 2011

This is a change of 0 from 2010, I still have NWT and PEI left. I'll get these finished this year; I already have my NWT book chosen. And I am not reading an LM Montgomery for PEI.

USA - 40 States - as of Dec. 31, 2011

This is an increase of 4 from 2010. Obviously I've read all the popular states and am going to have to look up which ones I'm missing and pay attention to where books are set. Now how many states are there? 50 or 52? Something tells me 50 states and 52 cards in a deck. Let me google ... Answer is 50 states plus Washington DC.

Countries of the World - 51 countries - as of Dec. 31, 2011

This is an increase of 19 from 2010. I started paying attention to where books were set and picking books with exotic locations on purpose. Doing well here, will continue to do so.

To view my list of books read and their locations visit my Around the World page.

Movies/DVDs Watched in 2011

2011-12-31T12:30:00.000-05:00

Movies/DVDs/TV Seasons Watched in 2011

I have noted which ones I watched with my 10yo/11yo by starting off with a red (#).

Jan: 2

(#) 1. Thunderball (1965) (re-watch) (library) - Since this was Dad's second last night with us we let him pick the movies for us to watch and last year we started letting ds watch the James Bond movies as long as they were the Connery or Moore ones. This is a Sean Connery one and thoroughly enjoyed by all. All the grown-ups had seen it before but none could remember having seen it more than one time. (My dad originally in the the theatre!) . A lot of this one takes place underwater as Bond searches for two stolen missiles that have been hidden off the coast of Nassau somewhere and the secret boardings of the enemies ship. Lots of action, lots of James getting information out of the girl between the sheets and lots of Sean Connery with no shirt on! Ds loved the action sequences to pieces, laughing his head off at some of the antics (the violence is so low-key in these movies) My sil and I commented that if the movie was made today they never would have let Sean get away with that gorgeous chest of his. He would have been waxed within an inch of his life and we both said at the same time "YUCK!" Can't stand men with waxed chests! Anyway back to the movie, it's a great one, not one of the most remembered though as it doesn't really have any famous scenes in it but it's actually got a good plot and is a good movie. Tom Jones did the theme song. I absolutely l-o-v-e Tom Jones! Watch the opening sequence with theme song here.

2. Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935) (library) - Dad's choice again. I watched a lot of the Charlie Chan movies as a kiddo but have no idea which ones I've seen before. This rang no bells in my middle age brain so I'll treat it as a first timer. I love the humour of these Chan movies. I know some people can't get past the 1930s representation of the Chinese people, but I have no problem with these particular movies. There are plenty of Asian actors in the movie (even if Charlie is a white guy) and never (from a 1930s mindset) are the Chinese people made out to be lesser human beings. Yes, there are stereotypes but from a 1930s pov it is not hateful in any sense. The movie was hilarious. Charlie Chan is the equivalent of a Chinese Hercule Poirot, very wise and solves the mystery with his mind. His Number One son, Lee, is his sidekick and they have a hilarious relationship, with Lee being an average American kid complete with slang, yet of course eager to please 'Pops' and show him his honorable Chinese side. Short 70 minute movie, for a fun mixture of humour and mystery. Unfortunately it got quite late and I fell asleep near the end of the movie and had to go to bed, so I just have to wait until Dad gets up to see if I was right as to whodunit. (ETA: Nope, I was completely wrong. The plot got even more wild at the end and I would never have guessed.)

Feb: 1

3. Therese: The Story of Saint Therese of Lisieux (2004) (library) - absolutely beautiful indie movie about the life of "The Little Flower". Our church has been run by Carmelites since the 1850s and the North American Shrine to Saint Therese is here in my hometown, which we visit often so it was very enjoyable to watch her story come to life. As an indie film it certainly isn't Hollywood standards, but a very nice job has been done and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My dh watched this with me and this is not his sort of movie. He told me straight off that he'd start to watch it with me but if it was too soppy or pious he was leaving. He didn't move an inch! It's wonderful to watch a thoroughly positive Catholic movie like this that also takes place in the not so distant past.

Mar: 1

(#)4. Gulliver's Travels (1996) (rewatch) (Inter-Library Loan) - After we finished reading our version of Gulliver (highly recommended, btw) I had planned all along on watching this TV mini-series starring Ted Danson with ds to bring the book further to life for him. This still being the most faithful rendition of the book to screen. There are still many, many, deviance's from the original but from our adapted version it was quite a satisfactory book to film experience. In the book Gulliver keeps going out on travels and coming home, then going back to sea again. But to create a better continuity for a movie, they made up a story where the movie begins with Gulliver arriving home after being gone all these years. As he tries to tell his story he is thought mad and put into an insane asylum. This is mostly due to the fact that another Dr. has taken over his practise and has been trying to get his wife to marry him. Most of this second story was over ds's head and I had to explain the deviousness that was going on with this part. But the actual Travel's part of the movie was wonderful and true to our version of the book; Ds loved it! We watched the mini-series over three nights.

Apr: 1

(#)5. The 1940s House (2001) (library) This is a British reality show and I've never seen any of the other House series. Having just finished studying the War, I decided this would be a good watch for us to get a feel for the homefront. I enjoyed this very much as this is the type of history that I enjoy and DS enjoyed it too, some bits went over his head but he really did appreciate the experience. I'm really glad we watched it!

May: 0

June: 0

July:2

6. Red Dawn. (1984) (Library) (re-watch) - I wanted to re-watch Taps; hubby wanted to re-watch this. The library had this and I had to put an ILL in for Taps, so we watched this first. I remember loving this when I originally watched it, which would have been at the movies in 1984. I've never seen it again since. So how did it hold up? Not very well. First of all, this is very much Patrick Swayze's movie and I was never a fan of his. This was Charlie Sheen's first feature film debut and he is such a cutie and has quite a decent part with lots of lines and screen time but hardly ever gets any close-ups which was disappointing. Story-wise, it was really over the top and felt like an extended episode of the A-Team with this small group of kids against a whole town full of enemy soldiers. We rolled our eyes a lot but took it for what it was, a movie of its times.

(#)7. Kicking & Screaming. (2005) (own) - This is hubby's movie not mine. I'm not a fan of Will Ferrell for the most part. Dh and ds were watching this and I decided to join in about 10 minutes into the movie to make it a family night. Pleasantly enough it ended up being a funny family movie. Ds didn't want to watch it at first as he does not like soccer but I convinced him that I even enjoyed sport movies sometimes (and he knows how much I hate it when his dad is watching any sports on TV). So in the end ds really enjoyed it and thought it was hilarious and so did dh. And I have no complaints for what it is, a fun, often silly, family comedy. An enjoyable evening.

August: 5

8. Taps (1981) (Inter-Library Loan) (re-watch) - As far as I remember I have only seen this when it originally came out. I have always had a spot in my heart as having loved this movie ever since. In the opening credits there are only two famous actors listed George C. Scott and a young Timothy Hutton. Brilliant performance for Hutton. I really enjoyed the movie again re-watching it this time as an adult but it didn't have the same impact on me. The rebel students who so endeared my teenage heart, now seem to be misguided youths with little plan and a false sense of what is right. So while the plot didn't exactly bowl me over this time, I did still enjoy the movie for the brilliant performances by said star Timothy Hutton and two newcomers who were only mentioned in the end credits, both very young but giving powerful performances were Tom Cruise and Sean Penn. This was Penn's first feature film. Cruise had had a bit part in a prior feature film and it is no wonder based on his performance here that he went on to be a part of the gang of young hotties in his next film, "The Outsiders"

(#)9. Charlotte's Web (1973) (Library) (re-watch) - I'd just finished reading the book to ds and had planned on us watching the original animated movie that I grew up watching on TV. It seemed like it was one of those perennial favourites that was shown once a year and I had fond memories of it. I haven't re-watched it since those days though and finally re-watching it as an adult it didn't really hold up for me. I had totally forgotten that it was a musical, and honestly it was a pretty slow movie. It was very true to the book though. Ds was glad that the movie followed the book, even the names were the same, something he's found often get changed when book turns to movie. But he hated the singing. Ds does not like musicals. He said there is no singing in the book, why do they have to sing in the movie? That annoyed him very much. But otherwise, he did enjoy the movie and enjoyed the humorous bits. In the book he loved the goose's double speak and was pleased as punch when the goose in the movie followed suit. I'd say that she was his favourite character, but of course he also liked Templeton, as did I. Though they made him much grumpier in the movie than in the book. Re-watching it has made me loose those warm, fuzzy memories I had for the movie but it does get an "A" for staying true to the book. We haven't watched the new version of the movie and I doubt we will as I can say we are both all Charlotte's Web-ed out for the time being.

10. The World According to Garp (1982) (Library) (re-watch) - Hubby and I have decided to watch all Robin Williams' movies in order, excluding the ones we know are really bad and the ones we've seen dozens of time. That means we skipped Popeye, which I had seen and thought was a terrible movie even as a young person. This movie was Robin's second feature film and he plays rather a normal guy, compared to what he'd done so far: said Popeye and Mork. I guess this would be classified as a dramatic comedy. It's quite a serious movie with a lot of humour from low key to witty to physical. Robin plays a find performance as T.S. Garp. I had previously seen the movie, but only once and originally at the theatre. Dh had not seen it ever before. I had thought the movie was wonderful previously and now with the re-watch it was only so-so. It was overly long, with long parts where nothing happened that seemed to stretch and it wasn't as funny as I remember it being. Dh, asked if he enjoyed the movie replies "Bits of it". OK but not great.

(#)11. Faerie Tale Theatre: The Tale of the Frog Prince (1982) (Library) - This is a continuation of the Robin Williams project. This is not a movie but a 55 min. TV episode of a TV Show that ran through most of the 80's with a few shows per year. Clocking in at 55mins, I would assume the TV shows were TV movie length 90mins episodes with commercials included. This episode was the first first to air and featured Robin Williams and since neither of us had seen it we decided to add it to our roster. Hubby thought it was ok, I really enjoyed it and ds had his funny bone tickled all the way through! So decent family entertainment all the way round. This is pure Robin Williams at this time of his life. Dressed up in a frog suit he is almost, but not quite, unrecognisable and he gives his stand up routines and impersonations making for a hilarious performance. Also of notice is Michael Richards role as the King who also performs with classic Kramer body language. Not recommended for young children though as there is disguised and blatant s*xual innuendo aplenty, the frog is called a "horny toad" and the princes is called "b*tchy". Really had fun with this. We may watch the whole series at some time or buy it if we find it cheap somewhere.

(#)12.Holes - (2003) (Inter-Library Loan) - Ds picked the movie. His teacher read the book to the class last year and they watched the movie but since ds only goes to school half days he only got to see a bit of the movie. He absolutely loved the book! As did I, which I read several years ago. I really enjoyed the movie. I'd call it a passive movie with lots of quiet humour and only a few moments of physical comedy. From what I remember the movie remained true to the book. Of course my memory of the book is fuzzy, by now. I enjoyed and loved seeing the big names show up we don't see too often Henry Winkler, Eartha Kitt and a very skinny Patricia Arquette. For some reason, the boys looked older than I had imagined they were in the book, but that may be memory again. Ds, on the other hand did not like the movie. He kept saying it was boring and nothing was happening. Too slow, too much talking and not enough actually happening for him. He got up several times and walked around the house before coming back to the movie. He did have his moments, where he enjoyed the comedy though. So for him, it was a case of the book being much better than the movie. While I enjoyed the movie, I wouldn't give it 5 stars, so I will have to concur with ds on this one.

Sept: 5

(#)13. Apollo 13 - (1995) (library) (re-watch) - I've only seen this the one time, on video, when it originally came out so I was pretty much watching it with fresh eyes. The whole family watched this movie together the actual reason being that ds had just finished studying about space travel and one thing he'd studied was the Apollo 13 mission so seeing the movie was rated PG I thought it would be fun to for him to watch. Dh wasn't looking forward to watching such a long movie, as his eyes get tired at anything 2 hours+ but even he stayed awake and enjoyed the movie as much as we all did. Ds talked through the whole thing though, asking all sorts of space/astronaut/vocabulary related questions. Even though he knew the outcome he twice asked me with a question in his voice that they did all survive, right? as the movie is quite intense. He absolutely loved the ending when they re-entered earth's atmosphere and then the parachutes opened. Myself, I enjoyed it very much, as if I'd never seen it before. If I gave ratings this would be one of the 5 star must see movies.

(#)14. The Goonies - (1985) (ILL) (re-watch) - What a fantastic family movie. Something to entertain and catch the imagination of kids (boys in particular, I'd presume). Secret hidden pirate treasure, a map to the treasure, bad guys on their trail and they're all trying to find the loot so that their parent's houses won't be foreclosed to make room for a golf course. Absolutely hilarious, a bit of a cross between Indian Jones and Stand By Me, with it's all kid cast of heroes performing the derring do of Indie. BTW the little Chinese boy from Temple of Doom is the same actor who is in this movie. Making big hits are child actors of famous parents Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings fame (Patty Duke's son) and Joss Brolin (James Brolin's son) along with the ever popular 80's kid star Corey Feldman. I loved it the first time and really enjoyed it again. I also liked watching the special feature of Cyndi Lauper's theme song video which had all the 80s wrestlers in it, from back in the day when I used to be a wrestling fan. Andre the Giant even makes an appearance! Dh hadn't seen the movie before and he really enjoyed, needless to say it was a huge hit with the ds. Great night at the movies had by all.

(#)15. Up - (2009) (library) - Just looking at lists of kids' movies and this one showed up as one we'd never got around to watching so I put a hold on it. Dh was sick in bed so just ds and I watched together. First time just the two of us watched anything in a long time and we picked a winner of a movie for our mum/son night! Just absolutely wonderful! A real feel-good movie without being syrupy or anything like that. The sequence at the beginning that shows the old man's life from childhood to the loneliness after loosing his wife is brilliant. It's a whole story before the movie even starts. Ds had a great time, laughing at all the funny parts and I really enjoyed the humour as well. Ds was thrilled that there was no singing! I thought Ed Asner was perfect for the role as he is the epitome of the grouchy old man. Love John Ratzenberger showing up for his cameo bit part. He's got a deal that he has to be in every Disney/Pixar movie made till death do they part, right? I'm not a dog person but gotta say the "squirrel" joke with the talking dogs was hilarious. Great movie, watch it, even if you haven't got kids; it's got a good message for all of us adults.

16. - Moscow on the Hudson (1984) (ILL) (re-watch) - Continuing along with dh and my project to watch all Robin William's movies in chrono. order. The next movie was supposed to be Survivors with Walter Matthau (sp?) but the library came up empty handed. So I put a request in for the next one and said I wanted a DVD "but" would except a VHS as a last resort and I ended up with the VHS. So I put a request in again for Survivors but this time asking for a VHS and I haven't heard back yet, this is usually a good sign. Anyway onto the movie. It's surprising how laid back and dramatic Williams' early movies were. I guess he really wanted to get away from being characterized as "Mork". Both dh and I had seen this when it first came out and had enjoyed it at the time. Watching again now we still enjoyed but would classify it as an ok movie. It showed its age. Soviet Russia of course is gone along with the defection of its performing artists, but mostly the idea that the movie permeates that America is the land of the immigrant's dream, where anyone can make it if they only try, has gone by the wayside. The message is jaded today and no such movie could be made today either. It does make one long for the good old days.

(#)17. Secondhand Lions (2003) (Library) - I chose this one as a family watch as it just sounded like a good plot and I love Michael Caine. Dh was working the late shift so just ds and I watched it and we really enjoyed it. A touching story of a boy who has a flighty mother, who has never had a home, actually been in the orphanage at one time and how is mother drops him off with two never been heard of before brother great uncles. They are basically grumpy old men and while for the boy it is a coming of age story, for the men they learn how to enjoy life again and how to love someone again. Beautiful story, quite humorous. I was only startled by the amount of language used by the old men. I hadn't expected it and it wasn't that bad with mostly d*mns and h*lls, but some of the language was rather vulgar too. It was appropriate for these men seeing as what their background was and once I realized it wasn't going to get any worse, I relaxed and enjoyed the movie with my son. A good one!

Oct: 6

18. Braveheart (1995) (watched on DVD at my sister's in Edmonton) - If you can believe it, I have never seen this movie before but have always wanted to. It's one of my sister's favourites that she has seen multiple times and she's always said we'll have to watch it together some day. All I have to say is Magnificent! I loved it! I am partial to Scottish history and wish England had never killed off the Scottish heirs to the crown so came into the movie a fan of the subject matter. And I love Mel Gibson; he's at his prime here. My husband hates watching long epic historical movies so I don't get much chance to watch them, even though I love them. FREEDOM!

19. My Own Worst Enemy: The Complete Series (2008) (my sister has Netflix) - Absolutely loved this show! Never heard of it before and it only lasted 9 episodes so it just ended right in the middle of everything. Very similar to Alias with the twisting, violent spy plot. Loved every second of it! One of those unfortunate awesome shows that gets canceled while the junk keeps on getting renewed.

20. The Secret Life of Bees (2008) (my sister has Netflix) - I've read the book and suggested this as a good choice we could watch with my 12yo niece. A good movie, I really enjoyed. The book was much better though and they changed/or left out enough bits to make it not as wonderful as the book. I still enjoyed it though. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of May and Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). So I give it an OK. On the otherhand my niece was bawling her eyes out and my sister was teary eyed several times. So not having read the book, the movie seems to make an impact.

21. Survival of the Dead (2009) (my sister's on Blu-ray) - Just me and my bil were home and he picked this movie to watch. I'm not into modern horror movies and thought it would be too gross for me. But it wasn't, just a good, fun, zombie movie with no real value to it. Stupid ending. Some fairly fake-looking scenes but some good zombie killing too. Had fun.

22. Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 (2009) (my sister's DVD) This is the first in a trilogy of movies about unrelated serial killer sprees that took place in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. This where I (and my family ancestry) hail from. The movie was dark, grim and boring. We turned it off before it was finished.

(#)23. Zoom (2006) (WE GOT NETFLIX) Ds picked this movie for family night. Tim Allen is a defunct super hero who is recruited to train a new bunch of kids with special powers to form a new team of super heroes to combat at immenent visit by a super villain. Some superhero funnies but basically a bad movie, scriptwise and acting wise. No funny moments for Tim Allen. Interesting seeing Courtney Cox as his co-star. When we were finished I asked ds what we should rate it. I was thinking 2, dh said under his breath 1 and ds yelled out 5. I asked if he was sure, that 5's were for best movies ever, but he was adament. I'll go back later and change it to a 3 so our suggestions aren't skewed. At least ds enjoyed himself. And it is a clean, non-offensive, kid-safe movie, which are few and far between these days.

Nov: 1

24. A Beautiful Mind (2001) (Netflixed) watched this on my own. Hadn't heard of it before or the man the true story was based on. I thought it was a good movie. Slow at first but quickly picked up once the reveal was made. I love how they showed the first half of the movie through Nash's point of view so that the audience is just as confused as he is when his life starts to fall apart and he is confronted with mentall illness. A beatuiful portayal of a husband and wife committed to each other so much that they hold each other up as Nash decides to deal with his symptons in his own way without the mind altering drugs of the era. Frank Nash evenutally becomes a Nobel Peace Prize Recipient for his mathematical theories of economics. A heart-warming story that shows people overcoming, without "curing" their mental illnesses, by sheer determination and will power, behaviour modification and logical reasoning if all else fails. This man and wife could have ended it so many times but they didn't beccause they had had love, and weren't about to give it up because things were tough now. No, they went on to prove that with that love they could live with, live well and happily, with Frank's schizophrenia using Frank's ideas rather than by losing his mind to electrical shock treatment and drugs that took away his personality, reasons for being, and his desire for his wife. A long movie, not fast-moving, but dark, and one I'm glad I watched. I've only seen a handful of Russel Crowe's movies but I've loved those I've seen; I might just start picking a movie because he's in it and see if I become a fan.

Dec:

25. Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003-2004) (Netflixed) I've always wanted to watch this show. Prior to this I had only seen one and a half episodes on TV, the episode where Tobias is painted as a Blueman (not in season 1) and a bit of an episode where the father is hiding in the attic (again not in season 1) but those two samplings had me itching to get season 1 and watch the show as it seemed to be my type of quirky humour. I am not usually a 1/2 hr. sitcom type of person. I absolutely loved this, I will say though that the first half of the season was better than the second. Though the last episode where everyone is on Atkins and can't eat any carbs is funny. I really enjoyed the guest stars. Liza Minella in her extended story arc and Julia Louise-Dreyfuss's two episodes were hilarious. Aside from loving Jason Bateman since I first saw him on Little House on the Prairie and Silver Spoons, my favourite character on the show is Buster and after that George-Michael. Even though it is mentioned in the credits at first I guessed Ron Howard was the narrator right away and thought that was pretty cool too, especially with the Henry Winkler connection. All around fabulous comedy for those who like quirky. Can't wait to watch Season 2 and I hear a movie follow-up is in the works.

26. Survivors Season 1 (2008) (Netflixed) This is a short British TV show with only two seasons. A post-apocalyptic show that is supposed to be a remake of a British show from the '70s and is based on the book by Terry Nation (which I've added to my Bookmooch wishlist). An excellent show! The first episode is movie length and brilliant in itself as it tells the tale of a virus leaking onto the public in Britain and within 24 hours 95% of the world's population is dead. The show then focuses on a small group of survivors, how they meet, join up and others they come across and of course there is a mysterious government connection as well. I absolutely love the actor playing Tom, the ex-convict, who at first is a cold-blooded murderer but whose character develops during the show and one can't but start to like him. He seems to be playing his role very close to David Caruso and his mannerisms and even looks a bit like him but much more sexy. I also like the young boy who plays Najid (sp); he is often more grown-up than some of the adults since he was brought up in a working family where he also did his part to support the household. Really good show, watch it if you get the chance.

27. Sherlock Season 1 (2010) (Netflixed) Watched with my 22yo while he visited home for 4 days. This is a short British television series with only 3 hour and a half episodes. Looking at imdb, I see that season 2 will air with three more episodes in 2012 which look to have already been filmed. This is a fantastic show! Set in modern times, Sherlock and Watson are their modern day counterparts from the books. Much of the original characterization of the characters in kept with a modern twist. Watson has returned home from the war (Afghanistan) and they end up sharing a flat together the same way as in the books, a mutual acquaintance introduces them to each other when they both remark, who would ever want to roommate with them. There are tributes to Holmesian references for die-hard fans to notice. Holmes is an ex-addict who does not smoke but wears three nicotine patches. The actor who places Holmes is brilliant, just what you would expect from such a man today and played as an egocentric who probably has some sort of mental issue. Watson is also well played in a serious role rather than the old bumbling Watson we are often used to seeing. A fantastic show, great acting, intense and exciting cases with plenty of humour added to offset the darkness. Mrs. Hudson is used for comic relief. Along with the familiar faces already noted we also meet Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft and the maniacal Moriarty. Highly recommended for mystery fans.

(#)28. Hoodwinked! (2005) (Netflixed) Watched Christmas Eve. Both ds and I had wanted to see this one for a while. We all enjoyed it. Not the best animated movie but still good and enjoyable. Quite different than the usual animated movie as well. Other than one cute creature, everyone else was shady, sneaky, mysterious or not what they seemed. Probably a 3.5.

(#)29. The Adventures of Tin Tin (2011) (went to the theatre) First let me say this was my very first 3D movie at the theatre. Well, the new 3D, ykwim. I don't see the point. So, the movie has depth, big deal. I have perfect eye vision and I found the glasses annoying and kept going to take them off then remembering I had to wear them. There was no extra fun because of the 3D. I hope this gimmick fades away. Now on to the movie. Three adults, 2 50-yo and 1 40+, plus an 11 yo absolutely loved it. It was just like an Indiana Jones movie!. Same concept, same over the top adventures and near death get-aways, amazing duels/fights with the bad guys, trips all over the world, to find a hidden treasure. The 11yo laughed and commented throughout the whole thing. Good thing we were surrounded by other children LOL! I have never read a Tin Tin comic in my life but now I want to read them more than anything! The movie is based on volume 11: The Secret of the Unicorn which has a direct sequel in volume 12: Red Rackham's Treasure, so I'm sure we can expect a movie sequel as well.