A Great New Series from Lorraine Bartlett - A Crafty Killing

A Crafty Killing: a Victoria Square Mystery by Lorraine Bartlett

Review based on ARC.

I love Lorraine Bartlett’s Booktown series that she writes under the name of Lorna Barrett. Having enjoyed many an afternoon spent reading about the adventures of the citizens of Booktown I was eagerly anticipating this new series. I was not disappointed.

A Crafty Killing introduces us to Katie Bonner, a recent widow who suddenly finds herself the proprietor of Artisan’s Alley after the death of Ezra Hilton, whom at first glance appears  to be the victim of a robbery gone bad. 

Prior to his death, Katie’s husband Chad, had sunk all their savings (money that was supposed to be their investment in a bed and breakfast) into a small percentage of Artisan’s Alley.  After Ezra’s death, Katie is surprised to learn that she is not only the executor of Ezra’s estate, but the largest shareholder in Artisan’s Alley.  The business, which many believe to be the cornerstone to making Victoria Square a success, is in dire financial straights. At first Katie’s plan is to turn the white elephant into a profitable business so she can sell it and buy her dream business – the bed and breakfast. 

But before she can do that she must find out who killed Ezra, convince the artists at Artisan’s Alley to operate in a more profitable manner, as well as figure out if it is too soon after Chad’s death to consider romance. 

I loved this book. Even if I had not read Lorraine’s other books, I would have picked this up because of the crafty setting. I enjoy books with a crafty theme.  I’ll keep reading this series because it’s a beautifully written and engaging mystery.  The plot moves at just the right pace with plenty of action without overwhelming the reader.  The characters are well developed and full of quirky attributes that make want to know more about them.)

A Crafty Killing was an engaging read that I did not want to put down. I can’t wait to read more about Katie and her efforts (which I just know will be a success) to turn Artisan’s Alley into a thriving business.

I received an Advance Reader’s copy for review. I did not receive any compensation for my review. Look for this wonderful new series in February of 2011.

Caldecott Winner 1990 -Lon Po Po by Ed Young

Lon Po Po is a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood.  Shang, Tao and Paotze’s stay at home while their mother visits their  Po Po (grandmother).  She warns them to not let anyone in the house.  As soon as she leaves the big bad wolf appears, pretending to be Po Po.  Despite their mother’s warnings the girl let “Po Po” into the house and soon find themselves in bed with a wolf.  They escape danger through the cleverness of Shang, who is the eldest.

Unlike the Grimm story, there are three heroines, instead of one, the mother goes off to visit grandmother, and the girls rescue themselves rather than waiting for a wood -cutter.  And, as one of my students pointed out – in this version the wolf does not eat grandma.

Ed Young’s beautifully dramatic illustrations won him the Caldecott award.  Readers who enjoy fairytales will enjoy this different spin on a old favorite.

Recommended for 2nd Grade and up.

You by Charles Benoit

Good Reads Description:

This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?

There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?

You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction.

What a great read for my first YA read for 2011. I was hooked from the first word.  Benoit spins a compelling tale without being verbose.  Teens who struggle to fit in and to understand why seemingly innocuous decisions create so much trouble will identify with this book.

I’m sure teen girls will enjoy this book as well, but it’s a great book to recommend to male readers who have trouble finding a good read amidst all the paranormal romance and teen chick lit books.

It’s a quick, engaging read that you won’t want to put down until the last word.

2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Here's another challenge that is made for me. As a librarian (currently an elementary school librarian and formerly a reference and a teen librarian) I'm a big support of libraries.  My husband and friends say that I own enough books to open my own small library, but the truth is I check out more books from the library each year than I purchase.  

So I'm going for the Mega Challenge 51+ library books read in 2011.  If you'd like to join this challenge go to Book Junkie's Bookshelf to sign up.

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

Through a series of misadventures, 15-year-old Ry ends up having an off the wall summer adventure. Ry embarks on this series of calamities by disembarking from a train bound for his summer camp.  The train leaves without him and he is stranded in the middle of nowhere.  With no cell reception (and the battery on its last legs) Ry sets off on foot to find civilization.  At the first town he arrives at he encounters Del who offers to drive Ry back to his home in Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, Ry’s  parents are off on a sailing cruise full of their own misadventures (a monkey steels their cell phone and someone else steels their money and credit cards.)  Ry’s grandfather has been left at home to watch the dogs and of course he suffers his own misadventure when he falls into a hole and suffers a blow to the head, which greatly impairs his short-term memory.

I started out liking this book, but after a while it just seemed to drag on.  It reminded me of a mild version of “The Perils of Penelope.”  How much bad luck can one family have?  The story around Ry’s grandfather didn’t seem to make much sense. I felt that the author left out some important information.  Another problem that I had with the book, was not the author’s fault, but the printer’s.  I checked this book out from the library and my copy was flawed.  Pages 177 through 210 are repeated in the copy that I read and pages 211 through 242 are missing.  This appears to be the section where Del and Ry meet Everett and Lulu, but I’m not sure. It might have more information about Ry’s grandfather as well.

With that in mind, it’s difficult to give a true review of this book.  I may have missed some vital information that would change my opinion of this book.  However, based on the rest of the book and they way it began to drag after awhile, I’m not inclined to try to find another copy and read the missing parts.  However, if this book should win the Newbery (and I’ve read some post by bloggers and librarians that believe it should) I’ll purchase my own copy and read the missing pages.

Amazon recommends the book for young adult and School Library Journal recommends if for grades 7 and up.  Is it Newbery quality? Well, it’s not one I would pick, but the Newbery Committee seldom agrees with me. So who knows?

2011 Youth Media Awards Reading Challenge

The 2011 Youth Media Awards will be announced on January 10^th.  With that in mind, I would like to issue a challenge  for 2011. 

2011 Youth Media Wards Reading Challenge.

This will run from January 2011 through December 2011.  The challenge is to read at least 12 award winning books. The books can be from the following categories: Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz.

If you are feeling truly brave you can go for 36 books – 12 books from each award.  The books should be the actual medal winner, not an honor book.

John Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal honors the author of the year's most outstanding contribution to children's literature. Presented every year since 1922, the Medal is named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. Henrik Van Loon won the first Newbery Medal in 1922 for "The Story of Mankind." Receiving the Newbery Medal virtually guarantees that the winning book will remain in print and on library and bookstore shelves for years to come. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.  For a list of Newbery books click here. 

Randolph Caldecott Medal 
The Randolph Caldecott Medal honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children. Presented every year since 1938, the medal is named for Randolph Caldecott, a 19th-century English illustrator known for the action, vitality and humor of his picture books. Dorothy P. Lathrop won the first Caldecott Medal in 1938 for "Animals of the Bible." Receiving the Caldecott Medal virtually guarantees that the winning book will remain in print and on library and bookstore shelves for years to come. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.  For a list of Caldecott winners click here.

Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award honors excellence in literature written for young adults. The annual award, first given in 2000, is administered by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist.

The award is named in honor of the late Michael L. Printz, longtime YALSA member and Topeka, Kans., school librarian, known for discovering and promoting quality books for young adults. "Mike," as his friends and colleagues knew him, served on both the YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults and Margaret A. Edwards Award Committees.

More information on the Printz Award can be found here. 

I will post a linky for reviews. In December, I will hold a random drawing for a prize. Winners will be picked from those who completed the challenge.  I will also host a random drawing for reviews that are posted.

If you would like to participate please sign up using the form below.  If you blog, please post on your blog. If you are not a blogger and would like to participate, please let me know where you will be tracking your reads.  You can sign up any time before December 3, 2011.

A Myriad of Books: Complete Iron Fey Series Giveaway

A Myriad of Books: Complete Iron Fey Series Giveaway: "I'm kicking off 2011 with a new giveaway in honor of the release of The Iron Queen, the third book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, i..."

This is a series that is on my to read list. And most likely on my to buy list as well - unless I'm lucky enough to win it. If you'd like to win it - check out A Myriad of Books. You should consider adding this blog to your follow list as well.