Saving the World Will Change You

So I figured my first post should be about a series that has had an impact on my life as a reader. Have you guys ever read the 'Animorphs' series by K. A. Applegate? They were popular in the late 90s. I started reading them when I was in middle school. I bought the first one at a yard sale, fell in love, and then- lo and behold- the library had more! And we still do. :) This is a great series if you like teen sci-fi novels like Maximum Ride and Virals. The characters are original and believable and loveable, the plot twists and turns and keeps you interested, the dialoge is enjoyable and well-writtedn, and sometimes these books just make you laugh out loud. The library has most of the series, and you can always get the ones we don't have on interloan. Check them out! I'm very excited because Scholastic is publishing a reprint of this series. At least the first few, and then if they are well-received, the rest of the series as well. The reprints will be tweaked versions of the originals, with more updated pop-culture references and fixed loopholes or inconsistencies. (When you write a 50-some-odd book series, it's hard to be consistant, right?) I'm looking forward to reading these new versions of an old favorite, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I always have.

You can find more information on the official Animorphs website here.

A View Behind the Curtain

The books of Agatha Christie are very popular in Hillsdale, although I've never known exactly why. Granted, they are suspenseful and well-written with lots of twists and turns. Christie was a master at her craft. But they were published so long ago, conventional library wisdom would dictate that they wouldn't get checked out much anymore. At any rate, patrons who enjoy Christie's mysteries will want to check out Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran. With material from Christie's 73 private notebooks, this book gives us a peek into the author's mind. It includes drawings and two previously unpublished Poirot stories.

Late to the Party

If you have children between the ages of 9 and 16, you probably already know all about the 39 Clues series. It consists of 11 books written by seven different wildly popular authors, and it has been a runaway hit. So, of course, I hadn't read any of them. Finally, guilt overtook me and I read Maze of Bones, the first in the series and I loved it! Full of quirky characters, cranky cats, explosions, and mysterious clues, this book has everything a kid could want. And, it's perfect for those adults who grew up loving Ellen Raskins The Westing Game, as it's quite similar in concept and feel. I've already checked out the second in the series, One False Note.

Speaking of Janet Evanovich . . .

Since my last post contained a suggestion of what to read while you're waiting for the next Janet Evanovich book, I figured it would be a good idea to let you know about the next Janet Evanovich book. Smokin' Seventeen, the eagerly awaited seventeenth book in Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, will be released on June 21st of this year. We've already got a waiting list started for the two copies we'll buy, so stop in and add your name to the list. This promises to be a good one, with Stephanie choosing between Ranger and Morelli (and dodging bad guys, as usual).

Free Skate!

Janet Evanovich is a very popular author, and patrons are always looking for read-alikes to her Stephanie Plum mysteries. Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau is a super-fun read that has the same spirit as Evanovich's books. One year after Rebecca's mother passes away and leaves her a small-town roller rink, Rebecca decides to sell it and leave her hometown behind forever. But when the town handyman is murdered in the rink all the buyers disappear, and Rebecca realizes she must solve the murder herself if she's ever going to make her escape. With a sizzling love interest, and eccentric grandparent, and a hat-wearing camel, there's a lot to like in this story. It may even inspire you to strap on a pair of skates and take a turn around our local roller rink!