The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

331 p. Scholastic Press, March 1, 2013. 978-545284158. Arc from publisher at ALAMW.

Sage, oops, Jaron is barely a month into his reign as King of Carthya before an attempt is made on his life. I won't reveal who the assassin is, but if I had thought about it, I would've come up with the name. What was surprising was the connection this person made in such a short period of time. 

The pirates want Jaron dead. The king of Avenia wants Jaron dead and also wants to annex Carthya. Is anyone on Jaron's side? Apparently not, as the regents, headed by Gregor have decided that Jaron is not fit to rule and are prepared to appoint Gregor as steward until Jaron comes of age. Oh, and Amarinda hates him as well. And, he cruelly sends away one of the few who does not hate him, Imogen. Then, he drugs Mott and ties up Tobias. Oh, Sage/ Jaron, you do have a way with people.

Jaron becomes Sage again in a bid to save his kingdom. Action? Check. Sass? In abundance. Chutzpah? You bet. Sage is back and readers are in for a thrilling ride. No middle volume lull here folks. My only quibble was that there was very little of Mott. I mean, there was no way to have more of him, I just missed him. And Tobias too, but there were some interesting new characters introduced here, and a cliffhanger ending to leave fans panting.

I mentioned in my review of The False Prince that I was a bit reluctant to read it but was encouraged to do so by a fifth grader. She happened to come into the library to exchange books the other day when I happened to be about 20 pages from the end. I couldn't resist showing her the book and, of course, her jaw dropped. I promised her that she could read it when I'm done. I'll pass it on tomorrow, so she will have something to read during our blizzard. I love it when students recommend books to me, especially when I get that nasty knee-jerk reaction to the buzz and am proven wrong. Sometimes the buzz is well-deserved. 

Waiting on Wednesday

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill, over at Breaking the Spine, in which we share the titles we are eagerly anticipating. 

I found this one via a Goodreads update by one of my friends.

The Apprentices by Maile Meloy. 432 p. Penguin Young Readers Group, June 4, 2013. 9780399162459.

Publisher synopsis: Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary’s defiant son who stole her heart. On the other side of the world, Benjamin and his father are treating the sick and wounded in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam.

But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a magical new formula that allows him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When Benjamin discovers that she's in trouble, he calls on their friend Pip for help. The three friends are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while unraveling the mystery of what threatens them all.  

Acclaimed author Maile Meloy seamlessly weaves together magic and adventure in this breathtaking sequel with stunning illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.

It took me awhile to get to The Apothecary despite rave reviews by folks who usually don't steer me wrong. Time travel books and me are usually not a good fit. I read it with my ears and fell in love. It suddenly occurred to me that I haven't booktalked it lately during reader's advisory. 

The Skull in the Rock: how a scientist, a boy, and Google Earth opened a new window on human origins

by Lee R. Berger & Marc Aronson. 64 p. National Geographic Society, October, 2012. 9781426310102. (Purchases.)

Double whammy here - a National Geographic publication combined with science in the real world. 

I don't know if I ever mentioned this on the blog before but, when I was young, my mother (way ahead of her time) referred to the (black and white)(Seriously! I was an adult before I learned that The Wizard of Oz turned Technicolor when Dorothy landed in Oz!) television set in our living room as "the idiot box," and my television viewing was severely rationed. Ha-ha! Epiphany moment here. Perhaps the seeds of my early-riser tendencies were born out of the need for a t.v. fix since my folks slept in on the weekends. I discovered the wonders of Davy and Goliath one early weekend morning followed by Saturday morning cartoons. Well, I think Saturday morning cartoons were allowed just so my (hung over) parents could sleep in. While I'm being confessional here, I have to apologize to my maternal grandmother. Sorry G-ma J., I was not the devoted granddaughter. You had your television on 24/7.

My point - one of the few parent-sanctioned family viewing programs were National Geographic specials. We also received a subscription to the magazine, which my brother would usually commandeer to read multiple times cover to cover. So my devotion to Nat. Geo. is visceral.

And, as I mentioned before, give me a science in the real world scenario or incorporate how childhood interests led to a career in science and I'm sold. Here we have a double whammy of science in the real world that starts with a bang in Chapter One, cleverly illustrated with hand bones missing all the phalanges save one, for chapter one, get it? Tee hee.

Matthew Berger, the nine-year-old son of co-author, Lee Berger found a fossil while out fossil hunting with his scientist dad. Apparently, he found a human clavicle from what would turn out to be a "nearly complete skeleton of an entirely new species (Australopithecus sebida) previously unknown to science." Rewind in Chapter Two to Lee Berger's own childhood in the Georgia, where the budding scientist loved to be outdoors. Insert the 1974 discovery of Lucy in Chapter Three (Don't forget the hand bones keeping count!) along with a bit more background on Dr. Berger and some action shots of paleoanthropologists in action both in the field and in the lab. 

The book zigs and zags a bit too much for my linear tastes, but the text is engaging, if a tad meandering, the photographs are numerous and well-captioned. There is plenty of white space and a neat motif decorates the bottom corner of the recto pages. A page of suggestions for further reading includes books and web sites and is followed by a two page glossary that does double duty as an index. A note from Marc Aronson describing his role in writing the book concludes this handsome volume. In addition to being an interesting addition to my school library in its own right, it fits nicely into sixth grade social studies and science curriculum and could fit into our seventh grade careers in science unit. 

One thing that shines through clearly is the passion that Lee Berger has for his subject.

Non-Fiction Monday: Nic Bishop Snakes

by Nic Bishop. 48 p. Scholastic, Inc., October, 2012. 978-545206389. (Purchased.)

Full disclosure here: I cannot be objective about Nic Bishop. His books are pretty much an automatic purchase for me. The man is a god with a camera. My first Nic Bishop experience was way back in 2005. I had ordered Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley, which was photographed by Nic Bishop and chose to read it aloud to my K - 2 classes. With each reading, I came to appreciate just how ingenious this book was. It was easy to read, beautiful and contained most of the essential information about the chameleon. A quick check of the catalog revealed that I had been purchasing both Bishop and Cowley, first, as the aide at my library, then, from 2001 on, as the school librarian. I just hadn't really sat down and read any. I certainly hadn't chosen any as a read aloud. 

I pulled Red-Eyed Tree Frog off the shelf to join Chameleon, Chameleon and built a lesson for the students in grades 6 - 8.  My motto has always been, "one is never too old for picture books." And, my middle school students were rather used to me reading them a story when they arrived for their weekly class. That was the first time that I realized how hard it was to write an informational picture book for the very young and how such a project would be cool to try in middle school. To me, the ultimate synthesis of knowledge is the ability to distill and simplify it. Brilliance.

Bishop not only loaned (lent?) his photographic prowess to several Scientist in the Field books (and, we all know my love for THAT series), but branched out as author as well with his Nic Bishop series, Frogs, Butterflies, Lizards, Butterflies, Spiders and Snakes.

Each of these gorgeous volumes, boasts not only spectacular full-color photographs with several gate-folds, but at least two levels of text in addition to informative captions. Most of the photos are shown several times the actual size but all feature such incredible detail and just leap off the pages. In Snakes, the author speaks at the end about the challenges of photographing snakes in the wild and so, most of the snakes featured here were photographed in captivity. A page containing the index, a short list of further reading and short glossary concludes the book.

Visit the author's web page, nicbishop.com, for more information. And don't miss this, or any other book associated with him.

Non-Fiction MondayOceans by Johnna Rizzo

Oceans: Dolphins, Sharks, Penguins, and More! by Johnna Rizzo. 64 p. National Geographic Society, March, 2010. 9781426306860. (Purchased)

I was digging through boxes at the recent PTO book fair at my school and found this older title. How did I miss this? The cover is absolutely irresistible! Introduced by oceanographer, Sylvia Earle, this browse-able book is filled with spectacular full-color photographs and plenty of fast-facts. While it might not provide everything the fifth grade researcher might need for that biome assignment, it will provide an overview, tidbits or inspirations to delve deeper. 

The square, slightly over-sized design is perfect for the pairing of photos and information. The reader needs to turn the book sideways several times for "Ocean Extremes" features. The book concludes with "20 Ways You Can Protect the Ocean," a review of the three layers of life, a glossary and an index. Photo credits are provided, but not suggestions for further reading. This lovely volume is sure to please.

! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

56 p. Scholastic Inc., March 13, 2013. 9780545436793. Reviewed from arc obtained at ALAMW.

Poor exlamation mark, hm-m, should that be capitalized? It is, after all his name. Sadly, this isn't the punctuation dealt with in this darling new collaboration brought to us by the genius team that created Duck! Rabbit! (A book I somehow never reviewed but which I feature frequently in my "never too old for picture books" display. I even had a poster for the book. Come to think of it, I wonder where it got to after my library renovation? I digress yet again.)

Exclamation mark stands out everywhere he goes, except when he's asleep. No matter what he tries to do to fit in, "he just wasn't like everyone else........Period." 

He felt a myriad of emotions and thought about running away (hysterical illustration for this one btw) until he meets...

Question mark! Oops, ?

Question mark peppers him with, wait for it,... lots of questions! So many questions, as a matter of fact, that exclamation mark loses it and yells, "STOP!"

"He didn't know he had it in him."

Question mark helped exclamation mark find himself! The possibilities were endless!! He shared his news with his friends, period. Question mark asks them, "Isn't he something?"

They replied, "There was never any question in our minds."

Aw-w-w!

This is a must purchase folks! It's a no-brainer for elementary school libraries, but middle school libraries would do well to purchase it and school librarians should hand it over to LA teachers to spice up a lesson on punctuation. (They should also take a gander at Lichtenheld's E-Mergency!) Personally, I'm getting one for my home library as well. It's just ingenious from its design, short and wide, with, oh, what's that paper called when it's ruled with the dotted line? Ack! Can't come up with it. It's funny. It's punny. It's endearing. It's a must purchase!!!! Do the extra exclamation marks help?



I fell in love with the book when I viewed the Scholastic Librarian preview. Click on the link at right to the Picture book preview. It's the first book featured, but listen to the entire preview anyway. There are some great books in the pipeline from Scholastic. 

I found an arc at the Scholastic booth and grabbed it. Then, I was thrilled to learn that the Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld were going to speak at the preview that I was invited to attend. There were amazing snacks and terrific original art arranged on easels all around the room to view while munching. 

Then, we listened to Sharon Dennis Wyeth read from her touching book, The Granddaughter Necklace, followed by Stephen Savage's hysterical take on the perils of sequels while describing his own sequel, with Lauren Thomson, to  Polar Bear Night, Polar Bear Morning. 

Amy and Tom finished the presentation with a wonderfully choreographed presentation about the evolution of the book. Near the end, Tom showed a slide of a cool bulletin board created by an elementary school principal who read an arc and loved it. I was just thinking, "Isn't that clever," when he added the name of this principal and I realized that I knew the guy! He was vice-principal at the elementary school in the district where I work. He was about to switch schools and come to mine, when he was offered a principal position in a nearby school, where, ironically, all the librarians were let go. He is heroically trying to fill the void.

I just had to share this "six degrees of separation" moment with the authors, so I made my way to the front of the room to share this excitement. Unfortunately, by the time I went to claim one of Scholastic's famous red gift bags, They. Were. All. Gone! I was told to email my woes to them. Fingers crossed because the bag contained finished copies of the speakers' books. Squee! I can't wait to share these gems. I will most likely send the Polar Bear book to the elementary school, but the other two fit in quite nicely into my middle school library. There was a rumor that I, Too, am America was in the bag as well.

I am a bit perplexed as to how they ran out though... crashers or greedy folks? Let it go, bk. Don't let it spoil all the excitement about the entire event, which was da bomb.

What's New? Stacking the Shelves ALAMW Edition Part 2 - Middle Grade

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga's Reviews. Pop on over to share your new books and ogle what other bloggers got.

FedEx delivered the box I shipped to myself from Midwinter today! The books divide rather nicely into middle grade and YA, with three sorta in between. Here they are alphabetically by title:

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez. 326 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, June 11, 2013. 9780316209960.

Publisher synopsis: It's summer before eighth grade, and Erica "Chia" Montenegro is feeling so many things that she needs a mood ring to keep track of her emotions. She's happy when she hangs out with her best friends, the Robins. She's jealous that her genius little sister skipped two grades. And she's passionate about the crushes on her Boyfriend Wish list. And when Erica's mom is diagnosed with breast cancer, she feels worried and doesn't know what she can do to help.

When her family visits a cuarto de milagros, a miracle room in a famous church, Erica decides to make a promesa to God in exchange for her mom's health. As her mom gets sicker, Erica quickly learns that juggling family, friends, school, and fulfilling a promesa is stressful, but with a little bit of hope and a lot of love, she just might be able to figure it out.

Confetti Girl author Diana Lopez returns with this sweet, funny, and utterly honest story about being a girl in a world full of good (and bad) surprises.

The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis. Book 1 of the Seven Wonders series. 368 p. HarperCollins Publishers, February 5, 2013. 9780062070401.

Publisher synopsis:

One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he's going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven't been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they're hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The thrills begin in The Colossus Rises, the first installment in the epic seven-book adventure series Seven Wonders, from master storyteller and bestselling 39 Clues series author Peter Lerangis. The highly anticipated series has received early praise from Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, who says, "A high-octane mix of modern adventure and ancient secrets, The Colossus Rises is Lerangis's most gripping work yet. Young readers will love this story. I can't wait to see what's next in the Seven Wonders series!"

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy. 496 p. Walden Pond Press/ HarperCollins Publishers, 

April 30, 2013. 9780062118455.

Publisher synopsis: Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav, the charming princes from the fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose, saved the countryside from an evil witch in The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. And now, they have to save the day again, by keeping a magical object from falling into the hands of power-mad warlords who would use it for evil.

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle is the second in Christopher Healy’s funny and action-packed middle-grade series, the perfect pick for kids who love the Shrek movies and readers who like their fantasy adventures with a heaping helping of humor.

I'd better read the first installment ASAP!

Iva Honeysuckle Meets her Match by Candice Ransom. Illustrated by Heather Ross. 186 p. Disney/ Hyperion Books, June 11, 2013.  9781423135142.

Publisher synopsis: Uncertain, Virginia is no place for an explorer like Iva Honeysuckle to spend the summer. When Iva finds out her family is going on vacation, she's thrilled. She knows she will make her next great discovery at Stingray Point. The very name promises adventure and danger.

Iva soon realizes that Stingray Point isn't the exciting place she thought it was. But then Iva hears about the legend of Chessie, the town's very own sea monster. Spotting Chessie would blow all other discoveries out of the water.

Stalking a sea monster isn't as easy as it looks. Iva needs a partner—all the best discoverers have one. Iva may have the brains and determination to find Chessie, but she needs someone with a healthy dose of luck. When Iva realizes just who happens to be her perfect match, it will be her greatest discovery of all.

Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. 176 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, April 2, 2013. 9781419701900.

Publisher synopsis: I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn’t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. 

In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she’s excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can’t seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops.

I totally fell in love with Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and snapped this baby up as soon as my greedy eyes fell upon it.

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr. The Blackwell Pages, bk. 1. 358 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 7, 2013. 9780316204965.

Publisher synopsis: In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods must battle the monsters—wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.

The gods died a long time ago.

Matt Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history—because it isfamily history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell, South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.

However, knowing the legends and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids—led by Matt—will stand in for the gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team to prevent the end of the world.

Norse mythology (about which I always wanted to know more) + Melissa Marr! Sounds like just the book to give to kids who come into the library wanting a book just like...;-)

Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass. 244 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, June 11, 2013. 9780316089166.

Publisher synopsis: Joss is the seventh son of the Supreme Overlord of the Universe, and all he gets to do is deliver pies. That's right: pies. Of course these pies actually hold the secrets of the universe between their buttery crusts, but they're still pies.

Joss comes from a family of overachievers, and is happy to let his older brothers shine. But when Earth suddenly disappears, Joss is tasked with the not-so-simple job of bringing it back. With the help of an outspoken girl from Earth named Annika, Joss embarks on the adventure of a lifetime and learns that the universe is an even stranger place than he'd imagined.

My students and I adore Wendy Mass. Can't wait to read and share this one!

Playing with Fire by Bruce Hale. School for S.P.I.E.S. book 1. 306 p. Disney/ Hyperion Books, June 25, 2013. 9781423168508

Publisher synopsis: Juvenile delinquent and budding pyromaniac Max Segredo belongs in juvie hall. At least, that’s what his most recent foster family would tell you. Instead, Max ends up on the doorstep of Merry Sunshine Orphanage—their very heavily guarded doorstep. As he begins to acclimate to his new home, Max learns a few things straightaway: first, cracking a Caesar Cipher isn’t as hard as it seems; second, never sass your instructor if she’s also holding throwing knives; and third, he may not be an orphan after all. Soon, Max and the rest of the students are sent on a mission to keep a dangerous weapon out of the hands of LOTUS, an international group bent on world domination. Of course, all Max cares about is finding out more about his father, the man he’s now sure is still alive. As the stakes get higher, Max must make some difficult choices, including who to trust, and finally learns the true meaning of family.

Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes. 276 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 7, 2013. 9780316043052.

Publisher synopsis: Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son.

Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together. Here is a story of unlikely friendships and how they can change our lives forever.

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff. 229 p. Philomel Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, February 12, 2013.  9780399255175.

Publisher synopsis: Told in multiple viewpoints, A Tangle of Knots is a magnificent puzzle. In a slightly magical world where everyone has a Talent, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal Talent for cake baking. But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born.  And her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever.  However, these encounters hold the key to Cady's past and how she became an orphan.  If she's lucky, fate may reunite her with her long-lost parent. 

Lisa Graff adds a pinch of magic to a sharply crafted plot to create a novel that will have readers wondering about fate and the way we're all connected.

Phew! That's ten middle grade novels! If you stuck with me to the very end, thanks so much! I'm going to be very busy for awhile so you might not hear from me on Stacking the Shelves for a few weeks. I have one pre-order due this week but, I will not order anything till I plow through these babies. 

What's new with you? Happy Reading!!