Karen's Book Nook

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,

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

As part of my quest to keep up and read all of the Newbery Medal winners, I’m reading Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz. It’s a book of monologues of each of the characters in the village.

About the Book: From Publishers Weekly

Schlitz (The Hero Schliemann ) wrote these 22 brief monologues to be performed by students at the school where she is a librarian; here, bolstered by lively asides and unobtrusive notes, and illuminated by Byrd’s (Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer) stunningly atmospheric watercolors, they bring to life a prototypical English village in 1255.

Reading a short one from Kate Jacobs, A Sister’s Wish.  I requested it from the library because  I’ve read all of her other books.

About the book: Things wouldn’t be so bad if I just had a sister!” A child’s longing for someone who understands her, for someone who is decidedly more feminine than her brothers, for someone who can help her miss her father less when she’s at her mother’s, or miss her mom less when she’s at her dad’s is all the six or seven-year-old heroine thinks she needs. In the end she realizes that sometimes “…just being a sister will do.”

My purse book (perfect size!) for this week is Diary of a Fairy Godmother by none other than Esme Raji Codell.

About the book: With humor and ingenuity, Codell weaves an unusual, intriguing, and enjoyable story. Hunky Dory is the top student in her charm school, but her inner conflict about the purpose of witchcraft plagues her. She wonders if it must always be focused on evil. Hunky becomes interested in the work of fairy godmothers, a group looked down upon by ordinary witches, and, after much soul searching, she concludes that she wants to become one. Characters from well-known fairy tales weave in and out of the story….

Making my way through the Newbery Medal winners, I came across this one, Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis in the online audio book section of my library. I’m hoping to get through the 5+ hours of listening before it expires while I’m away for the weekend.

I’m currently reading this 2007 Newbery Medal winner via mp3 while working around the house. This one is The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I love to read good children’s/young adult literature and they can usually be quick reads. This week is all about making preparations for the Rendezvous so I’ll listen in while sewing.

I downloaded The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo via audio book as part of my quest to make it through all of the remaining Newbery Medal winners on my TBR list. I’ve got some sewing to do this weekend and I’ll listen while I work.