Trust No One

You can usually tell a good book by the number of times it gets
checked out. I noticed Trust No One, by Gregg Hurwitz, going
in and out several times before I finally snagged it and put it in my pile.
Trust No One is a political murder mystery with action that is as unending as the plot twists and turns. When a secret service agent literally lands on him with both feet, Nick Horrigan realizes the events from seventeen years earlier have caught up with him. Nick has to put to rest his personal demons from the past while trying to keep one step ahead of the people shadowing his every move.
This is the first book of Hurwitz's I have read, but his writing style and off center humor will difinitely have me scanning the shelves for more.

Graphic Versions of Teen Favorites

There are a lot of people in this world who like to read graphic novels (aka comic books), and the format has proven to be very helpful to those who think visually and thus have trouble reading entire pages of text. HCL has just purchased a bunch of new graphic novels to supplement and expand our collection. We've gotten some classics of the genre, like Maus (a retelling of the WWII concentration camp experience with mice standing in for the Jews and cats as Nazis) and The Watchmen (a superhero book which was recently released as a movie). We've also just gotten several graphic novel versions of series books that are already popular among teen readers. Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, and Maximum Ride fall into this category. Interestingly, several of these seem to employ classic manga style to tell their stories, which should make for a good mix of genres.

An Echo in the Bone

If you have followed Jamie and Claire Fraiser and their travels through time you will enjoy the most recent book in the series, An Echo in the Bone. The sixth book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, was my least favorite in the series so I wasn't as eager to read this one as I might have been. I was afraid Gabaldon had lost her touch, but she is back in spades with this one. It is full of the historically accurate details you have come to expect and sparks fly when several characters finally cross paths. I hope she finishes book eight quickly because she not only left many things unresolved, she quite literally left one character in the dark!

LeAnne

My Bookish Crush

Every once in a while I read a book that causes me to have a "brain crush" on someone--it's not that I'm romantically attracted to them, but they are so brilliant that I'm reverent and filled with awe by them. Michael Sullivan, who wrote Connecting Boys with Books is one of these people, as is teen literature historian Michael Cart. But my biggest brain crush is on Dr. Leonard Sax, a medial doctor and psychologist whose work focuses on gender differences in children. As a lifelong feminist and very opinionated person, his books were a huge revelation to me. Boys Adrift talks about the five factors that are harming modern boys in their quest to grow up, and Why Gender Matters talks about the inherent differences between boys and girls and how we should honor these differences without stifling our kids. Sax's writing is chock full of statistics yet still manages to be interesting and very readable. These books changed my mind about single sex education, and completely changed the way I look at bottled water. If you have children or are interested in how children learn and grow, you might like to try Dr. Leonard Sax.

A Jodi Picoult Tidbit

I first read a Jodi Picoult book when My Sister's Keeper was the "One Book, One County" selection at the library where I worked. I'd never gotten around to reading her because I was convinced her writing would be sappy and bland and altogether not interesting. Was I ever wrong!!! I now love her books and think that she has her finger on the pulse of our society in a way that is really intelligent. For example, her newest book, House Rules, is coming out in March 2010 and features a teenaged boy with Asperger's who is accused of murder. If this were in anyone else's hands, I might accuse them of cashing in on the success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but I know that Picoult will bring something new and fresh to her tale. She will handle her protagonist with sensitivity, and I have no doubt she will deliver a tale that speaks to many people and makes them think.

I Can't Wait!!

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I'm a big fan of Alan Bradley's debut mystery, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The young protagonist was just so quirky and delightful, and the relationships in the story were just so great, and the mystery was just so fun, I was sad when I was done. The second in the series, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag is coming out in March 2010, and you better believe I'll be one of the first in line to read it.

I'm also looking forward to Kate Braestrup's second book, Marriage and Other Acts of Charity: A Memoir, which comes out next month. Braestrup wrote Here If You Need Me: A True Story about becoming a chaplain for the Maine game wardens after her husband was killed in a car accident. It's a beautiful book about peace and acceptance, and it's the only audiobook I've ever enjoyed. Braestrup has a unique way of looking at the world, and a lot of wisdom for someone so young and . . . well . . . "normal."

I Love Surprises!!

There are many, I am sure, who would consider me an indiscriminate reader. There are very few topics or genres that I avoid, and if someone gives me a book, I'm usually willing to at least give it a try. Sometimes, though, I will start to read a book with the preconceived notion that I'm not going to enjoy it very much. When these books turn out to be wonderful, it's such a pleasant surprise!

Ordinarily, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, and I'm particularly not a fan of civil rights novels for children and teens. I just feel that, while rushing to make their point, these books tend to get very simplistic, hollowly written, and manipulative. Morning in a Different Place by Mary Ann McGuigan surprised me, then, by being nuanced, interesting, and moving. It is the story of a 13-year old Irish American girl who is growing up in 1963 with an African American best friend and an alcoholic father. Touching on issues of race, class, and social change, the author offers up a very good read.

Heartsinger is a slender novel by Dutch author Karlijn Stoffels, which is ostensibly the story of two musicians--Mee, who can see into people's souls and sing their sorrows, and Mitou, who brings great joy to everyone who hears her songs. I'm so glad that I ignored my feelings that it was going to be corny and vague, as it is beautifully written! Stoffels weaves together the disparate stories of numerous characters to create a whole that is far greater than the sum of its gorgeous parts. The reader doesn't always understand how the different tales are going to fit together, so when the connections become clear, it's all the more delightful.

DIY

There's always been a certain draw to doing things yourself, and when the economy tanks, DIY can be a money-saver, too! HCL has several new books that will help you take on various projects.
My friend's mother crochets, and every year about this time she gives me beautiful towels, cloth napkins, blankets and more with crocheted edges. Crochet Edgings and Trims by Kate Haxell promises to teach 150 different stitches that can be used to edge various items. With that many stitches, this book is sure to have something for every level of crochet aficionado.

Since we live in the state that coined a term, "Michigan basement," for unfinished under-the-house space, The Black and Decker Complete Guide to Finishing Basements is certainly appropriate. With many ideas for fixing common problems like moisture and lack of light, this book will help you tackle this large task. This book contains many photos to help you along.

Complete Leatherwork: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects by Katherine Pogson contains just what the name implies--detailed instructions on how to make a variety of projects using leather. Since it also includes information on basic tools and techniques, it should be useful for everyone, from beginners to pros.

It's nearly December, and with that will surely come snow, but it's never too early to think about spring and gardening. The Rock Garden Plant Primer: Easy Small Plants for Containers, Patios and the Open Garden by Christopher Grey-Wilson recommends easy-to-grow plants for a variety of garden situations. Whether you have a lot of space or only a tiny nook, you're sure to find some greenery that will please.

Something For All You Twilight Fans

The latest Twilight movie, New Moon, opens across the country at midnight tonight, and you can bet that teenagers and adults alike are excited. The Twilight books are a phenomenon, but what do you do when you've finished all four and have a craving for more supernatural romance? One option is Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. About a teenaged girl's lifelong fascination with a yellow-eyed wolf and the yellow-eyed boy who loves her, this story is very popular with people who like the Twilight series.

A Lucky Find

"Feelers" are people who dispose of all the furniture and junk in buildings after the owner has died, and they often find money hidden away (and get to keep it, as there are contracts and whatnot). This is a good book about a profession I knew nothing about. The protagonist's flowery style of speaking can be slightly disoncerting at first, but it allowed me an understanding of his character that I appreciated. And I had no idea how the story was going to end, which doesn't always happen when I'm reading. You could pair this book with Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners by Alan Emmins, a non-fiction book about another not-so-run-of-the-mill job.

A Recommendation from Joyce

Jane Stanton Hitchcock's latest, Mortal Friends, takes place in the upper echelons of Washington DC society. When the latest victim of the "Beltway Basher" shows up in a chic Georgetown neighborhood and a detective starts nosing around, Reven Lynch decides to find out what's going on. Joyce enjoyed all the curves in this mystery that People magazine called a "killer read."

Autism and Asperger's Resources

Several years ago, HCL received some sort of grant that allowed us to buy a bunch of books about autism and Asperger's. I wasn't here, so I don't have all the details about the grant, but I do know that the collection is remarkably sizeable and helpful. We have books for different age levels, and the topics range from treatment to explaining autism to support for parents. New books on the topic are coming out all the time--here are just two of them:

Quirky, Yes--Hopeless, No by Cynthia La Brie Norall can perhaps best be described by its subtitle, Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Become Socially Accepted. Norall, an educational psychologist, uses twenty years of experience with Asperger's children to create this easy-to-follow, practical guide. With topics such as "How to Greet Others and Make Eye Contact" and "How to Pay Compliments," this book gets right to the nitty-gritty of human interaction.



Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults with Autism and Asperger's by Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik is aimed at older children and people in their early 20's, so it deals with topics that aren't always addressed in the autism and Asperger's literature. Subjects like dating, romance, and life beyond high school and college are explored. LaZebnik's 15-year-old autistic son also weighs in, and contributes drawings for the book.

I Might Have a Weird Sense of Humor

While graphic novels as a genre have been very hard for me to get into (if you have any suggestions for a reluctant graphic novel reader, you should let me know), I've always enjoyed comics of the "funny papers" variety. Which might help to explain my latest obessession, Pearls Before Swine, which is written by Stephan Pastis. While Pastis always depicts himself as a something of a pathetic slob with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, he doesn't smoke and is actually quite handsome.






That's him right there.







His work is featured in over 150 newspapers, and has a cast of characters that are both funny and touching. There's Pig, who is optimistic and good-natured and innocent. Rat is conniving and doesn't like other people (and is a little bit like Dogbert at times). Goat is the smart one, while Zebra lives next door to a fraternity of crocodiles that want to eat him. I know it all might sound a bit bizarre, but what comic strip doesn't? What really matters is that Pastis has a delightfully skewed view of the world that entertains me greatly.


Where can you find Pearls Before Swine? Several collections and treasuries--like Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic--are available via interlibrary loan. Pastis also has a blog which is highly entertaining.

New Books from Old Favorites

Fall is the season when most publishers go all out, releasing the biggest books by their brightest authors. This autumn is no exception! Here are just a few of the much-anticipated new releases.

Jacquelyn Mitchard's stunning debut, The Deep End of the Ocean, was a gigantic hit. In the 13 years since its publication, it was chosen by Oprah for her book club, was made into a major motion picture, and became a favorite of book groups all across the nation. Now Mitchard has written a sequel, No Time to Wave Goodbye, and it's been getting rave reviews. With the Cappadora children from the first book grown, fledgling filmmaker Vincent makes a documentary about abducted children who are still missing. When the film is nominated for an Academy Award, the entire family is thrust into the spotlight and forced to confront their feelings about what happened so many years before.


Another book that was a favorite of both book groups and Hollywood is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Her Fearful Symmetry, while not a sequel, is the latest thing to come from Niffenegger's pen. The New Yorker describes the book by saying, "when Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her estate, including an apartment overlooking the graveyard, to the twin daughters of her twin sister, from whom she has been estranged for twenty years. When Valentina and Julia show up to claim their inheritance, they soon discover that Elspeth is still in residence, in ghostly form."

Nicholas Sparks' latest offering, The Last Song, is a family drama centering on 17-year-old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller. As she tries to navigate her first romance while dealing with the fallout from her parents' divorce three years earlier, she learns that love can both hurt and heal. The movie version of this story, starring Miley Cyrus, is set to release in April, 2010.

Popular Michigan author Mitch Albom writes about belief, faith, and the struggle to find meaning in this world in his latest, Have a Little Faith. A request to write a eulogy leads to Albom becoming reaquainted with both his hometown rabbi and the faith he had left years before. At the same time, he becomes involved with the pastor of a struggling Detroit church, and questions of faith loom large.

Stephen King is a prolific writer, and his fans eagerly await the release of each of his books. Under the Dome, which tells the story of a town in Maine that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field, should be no different. King's latest is such an event, the final cover isn't even available now, and will be "unveiled" when the book hits the shelves!

The Help

Our book club recently read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is a very thought provoking, well written first novel.

Skeeter Pelhan is ahead of her time; she is over 6 feet tall, a college graduate and she wants to be a writer. A sympathetic publisher charges Skeeter with submitting something different, something that hasn't been done before. So she writes the stories of several black women who work as maids for white women, in Mississippi, during the 60's. I don't know about you but the words, "Mississippi during the 60's" always send a chill through me. The stories that unfold are sad, funny, outrageous and dangerous for those who tell them.

LeAnne

Mixed Media

Having worked in both the publishing and library worlds, and having heard for years about the inevitable death of the printed page, I'm always interested in people who experiment with the book format and push the technological envelope. This is precisely why Level 26: Dark Origins by Anthony E. Zuiker caught my eye. Zuiker is the creator of the television show CSI, and his new book incorporates short films, a website, and other interactive technologies. Basically, you read a certain number of pages and then you are directed to a website to watch a short film. Yahoo even featured the book in one of its news stories. The Hillsdale Community Library has already ordered our copy, so you can expect it on our shelves as soon as it releases.

The same concept is used in a new series for middle-grade kids, written by Patrick Carman. Skeleton Creek is already out, and the second book, Ghost in the Machine, is set to release in October. I was lucky enough to see Carman speak--and to watch one of the short films from the second book--and I can tell you that this is spooky stuff! Maybe this is one way to get all those computer-addicted, thrill-seeking boys to actually want to read.

Hillsdale County Big Read 2010


The votes have been counted and the winner is:



The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

If you want the wits scared out of you, read One Second After by William Forstchen. It's not about things that go bump in the night, it's about technology our enemies currently have that can truly end our way of life. One Second After takes place in Black Mountain, N.C., a town not much different than Hillsdale. An EMP (electromagnetic pulse) is set off over the United States which short circuits everything that has a circuit. It wipes out every source of power and communication. Within weeks the country reverts to medieval levels of survival, each town dependent on the resources and citizens trapped within.

Although it is a work of fiction (well written, by the way) it is based on very disturbing facts. If Y2K made you nervous this book will send you over the edge.

LeAnne

Gilbery & Sullivan Set Me Free by Kathleen Karr

A totally great read. Funny, serious and enlighting all at the same time. Kathleen Karr writes about life in a Massachusetts's women prison in the early 1900's. The main character, Libby is the youngest inmate,only 16,who learns about prison life very quickly. Libby and fellow inmates are allowed to be in a choir by the chaplin and then in a play "The Pirates of Penzance". You will be rooting for Libby and her friends before chapter 2. Historical fiction with a different twist. The book is based on a true story, the Massachusetts's Sherborn Prison for Women did put on a play in 1914.

GrandLoving by Sue Johnson & Julie Carlson

Whether you live near to or far from your grandchildren, Grandloving will help you grow closer. An easy to read sourcebook for making memories with the grandkids. This book is packed full of great ideas.

Eugene the Librarian on Britain's Got Talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijwEwAvdo

I went to see District 9 last week. It is one of the most memorable movies I've seen in some time. The standard themes of prejudice, intolerance and persecution are given a new twist when inflicted on aliens stranded on Earth. After 20 years, everything comes to a head when one of us starts to become one of them. Definitely worth seeing. LeAnne

Muppet-tastic

Nobody can really argue that Sesame Street didn't change childhood, education, and millions of lives when it debuted in 1969. A whole generation was raised on those magical muppet adventures, and another whole generation trusted that their kids would be safe within the confines of this make-believe street. If you're as entranced as I am by Sesame Street and the genius behind it, there are several books that might be of interest to you.

Jim Henson's Doodle Dreams: Inspiration for Living Life Outside the Lines is a tiny book packed with a lot of inspiration. Filled with doodles and drawings from all stages of Henson's life, it allows us a glimpse into the mind that brought us some of the best-loved characters of all times. Although most of the quotes in the book were not said by Henson, they are inspired by his unique life.

Few people recognize Carroll Spinney, as he spent most of his professional life either inside a trash can or a giant yellow bird. Yes, Spinney is the puppeteer who gave voice and action to both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. I had a chance to meet Spinney a few years ago, and he was a delightful man--gentle, funny, and altogether unabashed. That he's been able to reconcile the wildly disparate personalities of his two greatest creations is a wonder to me. The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch) is Spinney's attempt to get at the heart of these characters and share the lessons he's learned in nearly 40 years of exploring both the dark and light sides of childhood.

Do not doubt the subtitle of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street--it covers things you would never have thought could have tied in to the history of this groundbreaking show. But that's part of what makes this book such a pleasure to read . . . that author Michael Davis is able to take all the threads that don't seem to have any connection, and weave them into a seamless whole. This book is great for anyone who loves Sesame Street, has an interest in the early days of television, works in education, or just loves to read about passionate people bringing their beliefs to the table and making something wonderful.

Help us decide which book to read for the 2010 Big Read. You can vote here, e-mail us or stop by the library.

The choices are:

Animal Farm

by George Orwell

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and

Anne Barrows

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

by Mark Haddon

Twilight

by Stephanie Meyer

My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult

Haven't You Always Wanted a Monkey??!?

I know that I talk a lot about liking or disliking a book's main character--it would seem that I am, in large part, a character-driven reader. Well, my new favorite protagonist is pictured to the left . . . Chico Bon Bon! Chico is the titular hero of Monkey With a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe, and he is delightful. I mean, who doesn't love monkeys? Who doesn't love tool belts? Who doesn't want to see a cheeky little monkey have adventures and escape from scrapes using his well-stocked tool belt? There's already a second picture book starring Chico Bon Bon--Monkey With a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem--and I'm looking forward to many more.

Why Did I Resist??!?!

All of my publishing and librarian friends had been urging me to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for a very long time now. I'd heard about how good it was, and how popular it was with its teenaged audience, and I had a very vague idea of the basic concept. Strangely, though, I never got around to reading it. Finally, I was given an advanced review copy of the sequel, Catching Fire, and figured it was about time for me to read Hunger Games. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this wonderful book!!!!! I don't want to tell you too much about the plot, but I will say that it's set in a post-rebellion United States that has been divided into 13 different sectors. In an effort to avoid future rebellions, the government requires each sector to send one boy and one girl each year to the Hunger Games, where they will fight to the death until only one person is left. If this sounds horrible, it kind of is . . . but in a really gripping and moving sort of way. I cared about all the characters in this book, I was on the edge of my seat from all the action, and I'm very excited to read the next book. I'll just be sad when I have to wait until sometime next year for the third book in this trilogy.

Goose Bumps on a Hot Summer Day

Something you may not know about me: I love a good zombie movie. I realize that the slow-moving zombies are kind of silly, but there's something about the idea of regular people that you know and love becoming your greatest enemies that I find both chilling and sad. David Moody has a new book, Hater, which is a highly addictive, modern-day "zombie" tale. While not the traditional brain-eating monsters you might be used to, the "zombies" in this tale find themselves filled with a sudden fear of those around them, and the need to kill or be killed. Moody does an excellent job of building tension, and showing how easily the main characters can shrug off the growing violence. This is one of those books that plunged me directly into the action, and creeped me out more than once. The plot goes in an unexpected direction about 2/3 of the way through, and I believe I've heard that a sequel is already written.

Book to Movie

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger has been made into a movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. It comes out in theaters on August 14th.

I took advantage of Bargain Night at the theater this week. My daughter and I saw Public Enemies with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. The movie portrays the lives and deaths of several infamous bank robbers of the 1930's, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and of course John Dillinger. The charismatic Dillinger and his gang are pursued by J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling police force of "young, strong, like-minded men" (creepy, I know). Christian Bale plays special agent Melvin Purvis, charged by Hoover to run Dillinger and his gang down. Dillinger's girlfriend, Billie, is played by Marion Cotillard. The movie is good, if a little long, and both Christian Bale and Johnny Depp play their parts with satisfying intensity. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.

If you'd like to learn more about John Dillinger and his gang, the movie website, www.publicenemies.net has interesting historical information on all the gang members and FBI agents involved. Or try, The Dillinger Days by John Toland in the biography section of the library.

LeAnne

Teen Fantasy . . . Not Just for Teens

I have always been one to read a lot of teen fantasy (because I'm what's traditionally known as a "nerd"), and so I'm delighted by all the attention it's gotten over the past couple years. Harry Potter opened the door for a lot of adult readers, and then the Eragon and Twilight books drew in a lot more fans. Here are some great fantasies you might not have heard of . . .

Flame, by Hilari Bell, is the first book of her Farsala trilogy, and it introduces the characters who are going to decide the fate of their land. As Farsala is invaded by the Hrum army, three young people with wildly different backgrounds--a spoiled rich girl, the illegitimate son of a Farsalan military leader, and a scarred orphan thief--find that their lives intersect in the most surprising of ways. The Farsala trilogy is based on Persian poetry, and has a lot of great characters who have to learn to trust both themselves and each other. Bell has several other series, as well as some very popular stand-alone titles.



I suppose it makes sense to go from Flame to Fire. Author Kristin Cashore set the teen publishing world abuzz last year with her debut novel, Graceling. This beautifully written and intricate tale with an engaging premise and a strong female main character was, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2008, and one of the best fantasies I've read in years. I can't wait until October, when her latest, Fire, will be released. Billed as a companion novel to Graceling, Fire focuses on an impossibly beautiful girl who can control the minds of others. Chock full of rebel lords, thieves and spies, a troubled young king, and a rugged land, I have high hopes for this title.

I hadn't realized that there was a third book about Icemark until one of our teen patrons had it sent over from another library (I probably startled her a bit with my exuberance). This series by Stuart Hill, which also includes Cry of the Icemark and Blade of Fire, centers on Thirrin, who is only 13 years old when her father dies and leaves her in charge of a small but embattled country. As she struggles against an arrogant invader and attempts to form alliances with the vampires, werewolves, and giant snow leopards that border her land, she grows up. These books are particularly good for those who enjoy rousing and action-packed battle scenes.



And I just can't talk about my favorite fantasy books without mentioning Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, which is one of my all-time favorites. Granted, it's old and it's so incredibly bulky (particularly in its paperback form) that it's hard to convince anyone to read it, but it has everything that good fantasy should. Endearing and relatable young protagonists? Check. Evil yet beautiful villian? Check. Seemingly insignificant good deeds being handsomely rewarded? Check. Based on Irish mythology, this book is almost Dickensian in scope, and is an all-around rollicking good read.