A Crooked Kind of Perfect

For another quick and easy read, try A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban. It's a funny story about a young girl named Zoe who has big dreams of playing the piano, but gets stuck playing the organ. She somehow manages to stay positive through some interesting (and funny) situations and be happy. This book reminded me of Because of Winn Dixie, another funny book narrated by the main character in a unique and quirky way. This book won't wow you, but it won't make you sad or cry either! Enjoy.

The Garden of Eve

Hi. If you're looking for a quick and easy read, try The Garden of Eve by K. L. Going. Evie and her father move to New York where her father has bought a withered apple orchard that the townspeople think is cursed. She encounters a boy who claims to be dead and a mystery surrounding a lost girl and a magic garden. I like a good mystery and while this wasn't the best I've ever read, I did enjoy it. I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think.

Award Winners!

Check out these award winners from the American Library Association!

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village written by Laura Amy Schlitz, is the 2008 Newbery Medal winner.

Three Newbery Honor Books were named:
1. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
2. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
3. Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. The Invention of Hugo Cabret illustrated by Brian Selznick, is the 2008 Caldecott Medal winner.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults. The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, is the 2008 Printz Award winner.

Four Printz Honor Books were named:
1. Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet by Elizabeth Knox
2. One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
3. Repossessed by A. M. Jenkins
4. Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill.


Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Orson Scott Card is the recipient of the 2008 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring his outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens for his novels Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences
1. American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China by Matthew Polly
2. Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
3. Essex County Volume 1: Tales from the Farm by Jeff Lemire
4. Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden
5. The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle
6. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
7. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
8. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
9. The Night Birds by Thomas Maltman
10. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Hello fellow book bloggers: You might have read this already since it is a Rebecca Caudill this year. It’s an interesting read about a girl, Miri, whose small village has been picked to be the home of the future princess. Surprising enough to her, she gets picked to attend the academy where they learn how to become a princess. Miri finds out that learning to be a princess isn’t so easy. She has to deal with a mean academy mistress, competition between the girls, and her own desires to be chosen. The girls find themselves in trouble when bandits try to kidnap the future princess.
Did you like reading the Princess Academy? Why or why not?

How to find a good book

A great resource for finding books is Novelist, one of our electronic databases. Novelist provides a brief description, plus any available reviews. For each book it also has a list of subjects. From that list you can choose which elements you enjoyed. The database will then use your selections to recommend other books that you might also enjoy. I really like Novelist. It often comes up with books or authors that I might not have thought of otherwise. You can check out our databases here: http://tplibrary.org/ElecResources.htm

Happy New Year!

Sometimes, I must confess, I become a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of books that are available and demanding to be read. Or I find that I stick with safe things to read, and never really explore new fiction. When that happens, I find that having a plan for my reading helps. Here are some ideas:
1. Alphabetical reading. This can be either titles or authors. Two years ago, I read alphabetical by authors last name. I made it all the way through W, but was completely flummoxed by X. This was a really fun way to read.
2. Thematic reading. The Book a Month program offers readers a topic each month to guide their reading. And we aren't just talking about boring genre suggestions. The topic for January is time. They also give about 20 or 30 suggested books. Even if you aren't going to join up, check out the website. You may find a good book recommendation.

Since I am sure you all resolved to read more in the New Year, this will get you on your way! Any other ideas for planned reading?