Meredith Reads YA is a really nice teen fiction blog where Meredith Snyder lists all of her recent teen reading, complete with reviews. The blog focuses on Canadian books.
Teen Book List on Disasters
YALSA offers recommended reading for teens in light of recent disaster. Very nice list of teen fiction and nonfiction about disasters and survival.
If You Decide to Go to the Moon
If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Steven Kellogg is an amazing book on moon travel. Combining poetry-like prose with scientific facts, the book draws you in so that you actually experience traveling to the moon and walking on its surface. Combine that with Kellogg’s always-wonderful illustrations and you have pure magic in a book.
Even though this is a picture book, the length of the text makes it better for Kindergarteners and older rather than toddlers and preschoolers. This is the perfect book to hand to parents who want something to read aloud to first and second grade classes, or to teachers in those grades doing space units. Simply wonderful.
Eragon the Movie
The official site for the movie of Eragon is up and running. Some of the sections are not functional yet, but you can read about the legend of Eragon, browse the lexicon, or download wallpaper for your computer.
Mimus
Mimus by Lilli Thal (1550379240) is not a book that I normally would have picked up and read, but I am very glad I did. It is the story of Prince Florian who travels to meet his father the King at a peace ceremony with a neighboring kingdom. The prince is thrilled to be attending such an important event and intrigued to meet the princess who may become his betrothed. But the entire ceremony is a trap. Florian’s father is imprisoned in chains and tortured in the dungeons. Florian is forced to become the apprentice of Mimus, the court jester, or his father will be killed. Can Florian escape and keep his father alive?
Thal is a medieval historian from Germany, so through her book we learn a lot about medieval life and the societies that kings were able to create. The book is fast moving and fascinating. I enjoyed the historical details as well as the lack of magic. Florian’s struggles with anger and depression ring very true, and the characterization of Mimus is complex and well rendered. Florian is trapped within the walls of the castle, and that setting is brought to life wtih amazing detail. From the Monkey Tower where the jesters live to the bustling kitchens to the royal wing to the darkness and fear of the dungeons, the castle is a society of its very own.
Unfortunately, the cover of this book will not get kids to pick it up. It is the perfect book for teens and good reading late elementary children who enjoyed Avi’s Crispin. Recommend this to kids interested in history, especially the medieval period. It is also good for those who enjoy fantasy, because the setting is so similar and readers will enjoy a book with knights, kings and jesters that does not have magic. Highly recommended.
Harold is Fifty
Harold and the Purple Crayon is 50! This article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers some insight into Crockett Johnson as well as a letter from a publisher saying that she doesn’t think that the book works. She changed her mind about a month later.
Read Alert
Read Alert is a children’s literature blog from the State Library of Victoria in Australia. Great information on Australian authors and international children’s lit.
Beatrix Potter Mysteries
Fascinating Life of Beatrix Potter Revealed in Mystery Series tells about the new mystery series by Susan Wittig Albert. Based on Beatrix Potter’s life, Potter serves as an intriguing amateur sleuth. The second in the series has just been released and the first will be available in paperback next month.
Nightjohn Controversy
North Jersey Media Group! has an article on a mother who has been trying to get Nightjohn removed from the Glen Rock Middle School curriculum for years. The article highlights other requests for reconsideration across the country as well. I think it is always good for librarians to be able to see the controversy of trying to remove a book or get it removed from classroom use from the parent’s point of view, it will make us more sympathetic as we try to get them to understand that they cannot make decisions for anyone but their own children.
Waking Brain Cells 