Karen's Book Nook

I finished The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares with book #4, Forever in Blue.

About the book:

Product Description

Some friends just fit together.

With unraveled embroidery and fraying hems, the Traveling Pants are back for one last, glorious summer.

Join Ann Brashares’s beloved sisterhood once again in a dazzling, fearless novel about a summer that will forever change the lives of Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby, here and now, past and future, together and apart.

My thoughts: I loved these girls and I especially  love series. Books that have individual stories intertwining always keep me turning pages (or in this case, listening) because I always want to get back to a particular storyline so it’s hard to put it down. I will miss the girls and really liked this coming of age book. We’ve seen the girls grow from teens to college women and  it was a great ride. This final book, more than any other showed what was going on inside their heads.  I wish there were many more, but everything has it’s time.

Rating 4.5/5

I love Avi, historical fiction, and series so reading Crispin: At the Edge of the World, the sequel to Newbery Medal winner Crispin: Cross of Lead was thoroughly enjoyable.

About the book: The more I came to know of the world, the more I knew I knew it not.

Now Crispin and Bear have set off to live their lives as free men. But they don’t get far before their past catches up with them: Bear is being pursued by members of the secret brotherhood who believe he is an informer. When Bear is badly wounded, it is up to Crispin to make decisions about their future—where to go, whom to trust. Along the way they become entangled with an extraordinary range of people, each of whom affects Crispin and Bear’s journey in unexpected ways.  To find freedom and safety, they may have to travel to the edge of the world—even if it means confronting death itself.

My thoughts: I loved this sequel and look forward to more.  Whenever I read Avi, it’s like watching a movie in my mind. This one was no different. Who can help but pull for Crispin and cheer him on?  Avi definitely ended the book with the promise of more adventures to come.

Rating 4.5/5

In this riveting sequel to the Newbery-Award winning Crispin: The Cross of Lead—the second book in a planned trilogy—Avi explores themes of war, religion, and family as he continues the adventures of Crispin and Bear.

Continuing on my Newbery Medal self-imposed reading challenge, I listened to A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck.

About the book:

This linked series of carefully crafted vignettes is set in rural Illinois during the Depression, when fifteen-year-old Mary Alice leaves Chicago to spend a year with Grandma Dowdel. Her initial apprehension at life in a small town with a scheming old woman gradually gives way to admiration and love as she recognizes the warm heart behind Grandma’s shenanigans.

My thoughts: I love YA literature and this was one that I immediately was drawn into.  The characters are so likable and the little stories kept pulling me in to keep reading. The tales were told from Mary Alice’s perspective and over the course of the school year, we got to see her relationship with Grandma Dowdel grow and change.

Rating 4.5/5

Ok, here’s the scoop:  I’ve been so busy READING and being outside that I’m barely online these days. Since I’m so behind on summaries and reviews that I’ll likely never catch up, I’m just going to move forward and do the equivalent of a Google Reader “mark all read’  to get out of this hole. Here’s what I’ve read that I failed to review. I’ll be in much better shape to keep up when I don’t have a mountain to climb.

Since I’m feeling better and the weather has been outstanding, I’ve been “plugged in” and read mostly audio books while exercising, working in the yard or just being on the go: Fearless Fourteen, Kira Kira, Susannah’s Garden, Catching Fire, All in One Piece, The Golden Compass, Finger Lickin Fifteen, The Black Ice, Crispin, Cross of Lead, and A Single Shard.

Arcadia Falls and The Reptile Room were paper books.

Three of the books were Newbery Medal winners: Kira-Kira, Crispin, and A Single Shard.  Catching Fire, The Golden Compass and The Reptile Room were also YA/Children’s Literature selections.

Stories that were part of series were Fearless Fourteen, Finger Lickin Fifteen, (Stephanie Plum Series), Susannah’s Garden (Blossom Street Series), Catching Fire (Hunger Games Series), The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Series), Black Ice (Harry Bosch Series)and the Reptile Room (Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events).

I just finished Book 3 in the Mortal Instruments Trilogy, City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.

About the book

To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

My thoughts: I started the book and got into it right away but needed to return it to the library before I was finished because it was overdue and there were other hold books that came in and I couldn’t check them out until I returned it. I immediately put it back on hold and when it came in I read it in two days.. couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed this one most of all and liked the way it all came together at the end. I’m glad to see that there will be a Prequel series, Infernal Devices starting and will get  Clockwork Angel as soon as it comes out. This was one of my favorite books so far this year.

Rating 5/5

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Always a lover of good children’s literature/ YA literature, I make it a point to read the Newbery Medal winners when they come out (and catch up on some of the old ones as well. This year’s winner was When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

About the book: Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever. By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this story very much and read it in one day. I kept feeling like Miranda was older than 12 and I think that even older teens would identify with her and like the book. I loved  the way all of the elements came together at the end and  didn’t want to put it down. I loved the Wrinkle in Time references and the $20,000 pyramid references as well. It was a fantasy story but very close to realistic fiction.

Rating 4.5/5

I love to read children’s  literature, especially Newbery Award winners and just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

About the book: After Bod’s family is murdered, he seeks refuge in a graveyard, is adopted by its inhabitants, and taught about life through the eyes of the dead. Soon Bod finds out that sometimes the world on the outside of a graveyard can be a terrifying place, and that it takes more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise a child—it takes a graveyard.

My thoughts: I didn’t know anything about the book but always make it a point to read the Newbery Medal winners. I LOVED the fact that I read it via audio book and it was read by the author. The accent was perfect and it was very enjoyable. I hated to see it end and would love a sequel someday… This medal winner doesn’t disappoint.

Rating 4.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge,

Recommended by the ladies in my Booklovers online group, I read  Book 1 of the Trilogy,  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

About the book: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts.  The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play.  The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district.  But that is nothing compared to what the Capital wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules. MORE HERE

My thoughts: I LOVED this book!!  It reminded me of the same feel as The Giver and I recommended it to the school librarian when I was just a few chapters in.  I can’t wait for the next installment.  This is one of those kinds of books that I found myself thinking about when I wasn’t even reading… (in fact, had lots of dreams about it last night.)  This story has a lot of moral discussion points and I can see it being used in a classroom to spark student thinking and examination of one’s moral compass.

Rating 5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,,

I finally finished the second book in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. It’s  not that the book wasn’t good, I was just very busy this month and didn’t have much time to read paper books.

About the book: A murderer is looks in New York City and the victims are Downworlder children.  Clary Fran and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary’s father may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what’s his true motive?

My thoughts:  While it took me awhile to carve out a chunk of time to actually sit down and read this book, I managed to read 3/4 of it in one afternoon to finish it.  I like the fantasy genre and while it is a Teen book, there are a couple of mature situations in it.  The author did not play it safe and I think it added to the book and makes me really want to read the 3rd one, City of Glass,  to see how things will play out. Are things not really what they seem?

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

Making my way through getting caught up on Newbery Medal winners, I read Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins, the 2006 winner.

About the book: From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 6-9–The author of the popular All Alone in the Universe (HarperCollins, 1999) returns with another character study involving those moments that occur in everyone’s life–moments when a decision is made that sends a person along one path instead of another. Debbie, who wishes that something would happen so she’ll be a different person, and Hector, who feels he is unfinished, narrate most of the novel. Both are 14 years old. Hector is a fabulous character with a wry humor and an appealing sense of self-awareness. A secondary story involving Debbie’s locket that goes missing in the beginning of the tale and is passed around by a number of characters emphasizes the theme of the book. The descriptive, measured writing includes poems, prose, haiku, and question-and-answer formats. There is a great deal of humor in this gentle story about a group of childhood friends facing the crossroads of life and how they wish to live it. Young teens will certainly relate to the self-consciousnesses and uncertainty of all of the characters, each of whom is straining toward clarity and awareness. The book is profusely illustrated with Perkins’s amusing drawings and some photographs

My thoughts: I listened to this one on audio book and I must admit that I wasn’t giving it my undivided attention because it took me awhile to even  make out what was going on. I  didn’t know anything about the story and wasn’t even sure if the characters were human or if it was a fantasy story and they were not. Once I did, I enjoyed it and think it is relevant for teens. Goodness knows, the teen years are full of decisions and choosing paths. I enjoyed the characters and found myself rooting for them throughout.  I do wish that had read the hard copy though because there were a number of illustrations to accompany the story. I would like to pick it up again at some point and will read the actual book.

Rating 3/5