Books, Books, and (Audio)Books

Imagine being the child of a Greek god...

2008-02-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan

Most kids have enough trouble making it through school unharmed. Percy Jackson has it doubly hard. He's constantly getting into trouble and his ADHD and dyslexia don't help. Just when he's about to make it through the school year without major incident, though, things go horribly wrong. Percy finds himself in a fight with his math teacher, who it turns out isn't a teacher, but a monster from the depths of Hades. That's right, an evil Fury sent from the Underworld. Turns out, Percy is the son of a Greek god, and the monsters from down there don't like that very much.

After wreaking havoc at school, Percy goes to a summer camp for Half-Bloods, a place for children that have one human parent and one Greek god parent, like Hermes, Ares, and Zeus. He's safe at the camp, but not for long. Someone's causing problems amongst the gods and stolen Zeus's masterbolt, the one he uses to create lightning. Percy and his friends must set out on a quest to reclaim the stolen object and his adventures along the way are nothing short of heroic.

This book is a part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series:

Book 1: The Lightning Thief
Book 2: The Sea of Monsters
Book 3: The Titan's Curse
Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Coming Soon!!)

Book Review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

2008-02-20T11:53:00.000-08:00

Fifteen year-old orphan Will has hopes of becoming a knight. Instead, however, he is assigned by the Baron to become an apprentice to a Ranger named Halt, one member of a mysterious corps that protects the kingdom from danger. Though local superstitions of the rangers’ craft leave Will reluctant to join this secretive militia, this first in a fantastical series of books follows the exciting journey of an ambitious young man learning the skills of a cunning and stealthy group of resourceful soldiers. As former enemies of the kingdom begin to cross back into its borders, Will must summon his courage to use his newly learned skills and save his village and the kingdom from harm. These perils are just a glimpse of the dangers soon to come as the series progresses.

Less about being a fantasy book and more about being an adventure and following the lives of Will and his friends, this book takes you deep into their daily lives. Without losing momentum in the story, the reader learns as Will learns, getting to know more about him, his friends, and the world in which they live. You'll be brought into the ups and downs of their daily lives, as they overcome the difficulties of learning new skills. Excitement and anxiety about what lies ahead for Will are often present and will make you feel like you're a part of this book.

This is the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. Here is a list of the complete series:

Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan
Book 2: The Burning Bridge
Book 3: The Icebound Land
Book 4: Oakleaf Bearers
Book 5: Sorcerer in the North
Book 6: The Seige of Macindaw
Book 7: Erak's Ransom

Book review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

2008-02-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

The first book in the Traveling Pants series, this novel begins the tale of four best friends separated over summer vacation. The story begins in Maryland, but as the summer begins Lena travels to Greece, Bridget is off to soccer camp, Carmen is going to visit her father in South Carolina, all while Tibby is stuck at home. These four girls have been friends since birth, are rarely separated, and are not looking forward to being apart all summer long.

Just before they all begin their separate adventures, the find a pair of pants in a thrift shop that miraculously fits all four of them (and considering Bridget tall and slender and Carmen is short and curvaceous, this is no small wonder). The pants become their bond. Though apart by location, they send the pants and letters to one another and it keeps them together. Each girl has their own set of struggles throughout the summer, but the common bond helps them through. This is a great story of friendship, teen misadventures, and growing a little bit older day by day.

Book review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

A Tale in Letters and Correspondence

2007-12-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

Regarding the Fountain:
A Tale in Letters, of Liars and Leaks
Written by Kate Klise
Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

If you're looking for fiction that's written in a little different style, this book is perfect for you. Rather than just writing a story in words, Regarding the Fountain is a series of letters, telegrams, memos, receipts, and newspaper clippings. It is a truly unique way to tell a story.

In the town of Dry Creek, the middle school is in need of a new water fountain to a replace a leaky, old one. When the principal asks for information from Florance Waters of Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc., he gets a lot more than he requested. Rather than just delivering a new water fountain, Florence Waters begins corresponding with the students of the school about designs and their "dream fountain." Needless to say, when talk begins of slides, wading pools, statues and fish for a water fountain, things are a little out of control.

Additionally, when the students begin to conduct research on the school and why the town of Dry Creek, originally called Spring Creek before the creek went dry, things begin to look a little...fishy. It seems that Sally Mander, the owner of the town pool, and Delbert "Dee" Eel, the owner of the water company, have something to hide. But what are they trying to cover up? And why don't they want anyone to fix the leaky fountain? A little research goes a long way in discovering why the town is the way it is today.

A Personal Story of Illegal Immigration

2007-12-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Ask Me No Questions
by Marina Budhos

Fourteen year-old Nadira and her family moved to New York City from Bangladesh (a country near India in Asia) when she was a young girl. Originally, they were in this country on a tourist visa, but that expired long ago, and now they reside in the United States illegally. Fearing being sent out of the country, they try to seek safety in Canada, but are refused at the border. When Nadira's father is put into jail for being in the U.S. illegally, her world is turned upside down and she now feels like she doesn't belong in a country that she has considered home for most of her life.

This novel by Marina Budhos says a great deal about how immigration has changed since September 11th. For those that want to come to America, the experience can be very frightening and unwelcoming. Nadira is forced to deal with many issues that someone her age should never have to think about. However, she learns to deal with challenges that are normally left to adults and accomplishes great things for herself and her family.

Let's Runaway! ...to a Museum?

2007-12-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg

Claudia isn't enjoying her life at home. In fact, she is downright unhappy and is planning to run away. But, unlike most children that only run away from home when they're mad at their parents, Claudia plans her escape carefully...and invites along her little brother, Jamie (but being the planner that she is, she's really bringing him along because he's good with money)! Not only that, but she runs away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Figuring it's the perfect place to hide out for a while, Claudia loves the elegance and learning the come with living in an art museum. Although, she and Jamie find there are some difficulties - like where do you wash your clothes?

Just as they are settling in, a new statue arrives at the museum that some think was sculpted by Michelangelo, but no one's really sure. Claudia and Jamie begin a quest to hunt down the identity of the true sculptor, and it eventually leads them towards Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a nutty, rich lady with too much time on her hands and mischievous way of keeping secrets. She's the original owner of the statue and she might no who made it, but she's not telling. Will Claudia and Jamie be able to solve the mystery before they get caught on their runaway caper? Or will they return home never knowing about the statue's creator and the many secrets kept in the mixed-up files of the unique, elderly woman?

Book review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

Where are you from? ...Are you sure?

2007-12-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Earthborn
By Sylvia Waugh

Say you're from Hyattsville, Maryland, and you've lived here all your life. You've never known anything else, so you assume that's the truth. Now, imagine if your parents told you that you are actually from India or Russia. It'd make you feel kind of strange, right? Now, imagine that your parents told you that you aren't even from Earth...how frightening would that be?

That's just what's happened to Nesta. She's lived in England all her life as a human. Then, suddenly, her parents tell her that she's actually an alien from the planet Ormingat. For a young girl, this is a shock that she simply can't handle. But it gets worse. Not only is Nesta not from this planet, but her parents say that it's time for them to go back to her home planet (which Nesta thinks is ridiculous because Earth is her home planet!). Now Nesta doesn't know what to do. She loves her parents, but Earth is where she belongs and she doesn't want to leave. Should she stay with them and travel galaxies away...or stay here on Earth?

Earthborn is a story of family, whether they are from this planet or not. Nesta's family proves that, know matter where you're from, the bond you share with some people is greater than anything else.

This book is part of the Ormingat Series written by Sylvia Waugh. Here is a list of the complete series:

Book One: Space Race
Book Two: Earthborn
Book Three: Who Goes Home?

Book reviewed by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

2007-11-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

Coraline's family has just moved to a new neighborhood, they live in a big new house, and Coraline has to attend a new school. She isn't at all happy about this and is bored because she can't find anyone to play with. She decides to explore the new area around her and even goes to visit the other people that live in her house (the house is so big, there are two other apartments in it). Other than the old women who used to be actresses and the man upstairs who's training a circus of mice (which no one ever sees but him), there's nothing very interesting to find. Except for a strange door, which doesn't seem to go anywhere.

Coraline discovers a locked door in her house. Her mother finds the key and shows her that it's only a brick wall behind it that used to lead to somewhere else in the house, but goes nowhere now. Or does it? Seeking adventure, Coraline opens the door when her mother isn't around and suddenly there's a pathway behind it. But where does it go? Who's on the other side of this mysterious pathway? Should she risk going through? There could be danger, or adventure, or both.

In this haunting tale of dark hallways and mysterious doors, Neil Gaiman spins a tale that you won't want to miss. Stop by the media center and find out what happens when you step through a door that leads to a different world...or does it?

Book review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

MAUS by Art Spiegelman

2007-11-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

The book MAUS (prounounced "mouse") is part biography, part autobiography. In the form of a graphic novel (similar to a full-length comic book), Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father's survival of the Holocaust during World War II. Vladek Spiegelman survived the Nazi Germans attempt to kill all of the Jews in Europe during the 1940's. Instead of just writing a biography with words, however, Art Spiegelman uses comics. And instead of showing people, he changes the characters into different animals. The Jews are represented as mice (which are easily attacked and killed), the Germans are cats (chasing after the mice), Americans are dogs (which some think of us protectors, but also predators), and the Polish are pigs (because some people believe that they didn't not help enough Jews and were greedy).

This is an amazing story of one man's survival and how that changed his own life and, in retelling his own story, how it changed his son's life. Art Spiegeleman writes his father's biography and at the same time, is writing his own autobiography. He talks with a great deal of emotion about the Jewish concentration camps and surviving the beatings, starvation, and gas chambers that went on during that time in history. This is an excellent book for anyone that would like to know what it might have been like to survive the Holocaust and how it affected so many people.

Book review by
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

2007-11-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

For those craving adventure, quests to the northern reaches of the world, and a journey through another universe - this is the book for you. The Golden Compass is the first book in the His Dark Materials series (the second and third books are The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass).

Though the story begins in Oxford, England, the reader quickly learns that it isn't our Oxford, England. While the land is very similar there are little differences. Of course, there are major differences too. This story is about Lyra, a young orphan who lives with the professors at Oxford University. In Lyra's world, one thing is very different - she is constantly accompanied by an animal named Pantalaimon that changes shape whenever he wants to (from a bird to a tiger to an insect in seconds). Lyra is a mischevious girl and constantly getting herself and Pantalaimon into trouble. When her friend Roger disappears in a mass kidnapping of children, she decides it's her personal quest to rescue him and the others. After being given a mystical tool that helps her seek the truth, Lyra follows the kidnappers to the cold lands of the North, being careful while travelling with gypsies, witches, and talking polar bears (there's no doubt that it's a very different world in which Lyra lives).

Will Lyra be able to save Roger from a fate worse than death? What will become of him and the other children stolen from their homes? How will she survive the cold lands and treacherous beasts that roam the northern lands?

This is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy. Here is a list of the complete series:

Book 1: The Golden Compass
Book 2: The Subtle Knife
Book 3: The Amber Spyglass

Book review by:
Mr. DiScala, Media Specialist