The Dark

The Dark by Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Published by Little, Brown and Company
2013
Shelf: Picture Book

Opening Line: "Laszlo was afraid of the dark."

Favorite Quote: "You might be afraid of the dark, but the dark is not afraid of you. That's why the dark is always close by."

Blurb:
Laszlo is a little boy, wearing blue footie pajamas, living in a large home where the dark hides in the basement.  He's afraid of the dark but the dark has never come to visit him upstairs in his bedroom, that is until his night-light burns out.  When the one thing Laszlo is afraid of is also the thing that holds the key to ending his fears, will he be brave enough to go down to the basement and face the dark?   

Within its lines:
Lemony Snicket has crafted a wonderful story of a boy dealing with one of the most common childhood fears: the dark.  But this dark, talks to Lazslo and guides him through creaky old hallways, down empty rooms, all the way down to the basement where it offers him the solution to his fear: a new light bulb.

The way the text is placed around the pages is quite remarkable.  Whenever Laszo speaks, his words appear in the areas of the page where the light sips in. And when the dark speaks, his words are, well, in the dark.

Let go back to this whole, "when the dark speaks" we just mentioned.  This is a fantastic book to introduce kids to the concept of personification.  Dark takes on its own persona in this book and the reader can't help but connect with it and befriend it.

The illustrations in sepia tones and inky darks by Klassen are a perfect match. And the lack of any sort of furniture or evidence of any other person living with Laszlo, that emptiness, really adds to the feeling of fear and loneliness that sets up the scene for this wonderful picture book.

Shelf it!
Yes! Shelf it! We don't get tired of reading The Dark.  Share it with a kid who's afraid of the dark, with one who loves the dark, with one who loves creepy stories, with one who loves sweet ending...Just share it!!

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling (Book 1)

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood
Published by: Balzer + Bray
2010
Age: 8-12
Shelf: Middle Grade

Opening Line: 
It was not Miss Penelope Lumley's first journey on a train, but it was the first one she had taken alone.  As you may know, traveling alone is quite a different kettle of fish from traveling with companions.

Favorite Quotes:
"All books are judged by their covers until they are read."

"If you have ever opened a can of worms, boxed yourself into a corner, ended up in hot water or found yourself in a pretty pickle, you already know that life is rarely, if ever, just a bowl of cherries. It is far more likely to be a box of problems, worries, and difficulties. This is normal and should not be seen as cause for alarm."

"Things may happen for a reason, but that doesn't mean we know what the reason is -at least, not yet."

Blurb:
Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females.  At 15, she's ready to take on her first job as a governess at Ashton Place.  But when she arrives, she finds three wild children, who are barely dressed and act like wolves, madly howling and growling.  The children were discovered roaming around the Ashton Place property by the head of the house, Lord Frederick.  Soon, Penny applies all the knowledge she received from Agatha Swanburne at the Academy and the children begin to enjoy poetry and the classics.  But there's more lurking behind the staircase walls of Ashton Place.  Not everyone wants to see the children succeed.  

Within its Pages:
The narrator on The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place creates a deliciously Victorian and ominous tone that reminded us of A Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (the first book in his Series of Unfortunate event).  Its lines are full of foreshadowing decorated with humor.  And while you find yourself falling deeper into the mystery of the incorrigible children, you hear the voice of the narrator teaching you the meaning of words like hyperbole and irony (again reminiscent of Snicket's series). 

The illustrations by Jon Klassen (author of I Want My Hat Back and Extra Yarn) are a perfect match with the Victorian tone of the novel:

The author, Maryrose Wood, has included on her website a fantastic discussion guide to be used by teachers and book clubs. Check it out. 

Introducing children to an engaging series like this one, it's a sure way to guarantee multiple book readings.  The ending will leave you wanting more and there's a book for that!
 
Shelf it!
If you love a quirky mystery full of great vocabulary this is a book for you.  The mystery of the incorrigibles and of Penelope's background is still unresolved, and you'll have to come back for the next installments in the series to figure it out.  But with such great characters, humor, and voice, who can complain?

The Fault in Our Stars

                                                                  

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Published by Dutton Books
2012
Ages: 14+
Shelf:  Young Adult (YA)

Opening Line:  "Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death."

Favorite Quotes: 
“Almost everyone is obsessed with leaving a mark upon the world. Bequeathing a legacy. Outlasting death. We all want to be remembered."

"I decided that the proper strategy was to stare back.  Boys do not have a monopoly on the Staring Business, after all."

"The world is not a wish granting factory."
 
"I fell in love the way you fall asleep:  slowly, and then all at once."

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."

 

Blurb:

Sixteen-year old year old, Hazel Grace Lancaster has been battling cancer since she was twelve, and is indefinitely bound to a portable oxygen tank.  Despite a tumor-shrinking medical miracle, her days are numbered.  Hazel lives under the tangible weight of the unknown, and this affects how she lives and views the world.  As per her parent's wishes, Hazel attends a  cancer support group where she subsequently meets and falls in love with seventeen-year old Augustus Water, a cancer survivor.  Hazel likens herself to a grenade when she constantly imagines the pain she will cause her loved ones when she dies.  Augustus fears oblivion and being anything but extraordinary.  Hazel will learn that "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities," and that sometimes it just has to be "okay."

Within its pages:

The true charm of this novel lies within its two leading characters, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, and the evolution of their relationship, and in turn, their character.
The story is narrated by Hazel.  She is smart, witty, has a wonderful sense of humor, super sarcastic, sometimes a bit cynical, and is constantly consumed with thoughts of death and being a grenade.  Agustus is charming, charismatic, confident, funny, and a "glass half full" kind of guy.   The connection between these two is instantaneous.  You will get lost in their world. 

There is no shortage of figurative language in this novel - it is filled with metaphors, personification, and symbolism.  

"I was veritably swimming in a paralyzing and totally cynical depression."
"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt."
"'I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?
"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
"I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is improbably biased toward the consciousness, that it rewards intelligence in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed."

You will find yourself marveling and stopping at various points in the novel, not only because the book is that good, but because the lines are that deep, and thought-provoking. 

Shelf It! (Okay?!)
As you read this novel, prepare to embark on a roller coaster ride of emotions.  It is filled with peaks and valleys, but the thrill will always leave you wanting more - so hang on tight!
At times, you find yourself smiling, and laughing out loud.  Other times, you may find yourself feeling angry, saddened, and quite possibly shedding a few tears.  And you will most likely fall in love along the way....In fact, we have a bookie crush on Augustus Waters!
It is all these emotions that keep you so deeply connected with the characters.  Green has done an outstanding job of accurately depicting and capturing the deep love these characters have for one another through their dialogue and actions.  It is thought provoking and compelling. 

Despite the circumstances, Hazel and Augustus teach us that having cancer, doesn't define who you are.  You have to appreciate Hazel's wicked sense of humor and sarcasm. The back and forth banter between Augustus and Hazel is irresistible and endearing.   

Admittedly, this teenage love story filled, with heartbreak and realistic tragedy, is somewhat predictable, but still so intense and gripping! You will question the fairness of life, but the world is not a wish grantig factory, after all.  Additionally, the chosen title of this novel is very compelling and intriguing, and leaves you pondering its meaning. 

Finally, you will never look at the word "okay" in the same way again!

 

Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Published by Penguin Group

2013

Age 10 and Up

Shelf: Middle Grade 

Opening Line:  "A genius shoots at something no one else can see, and hits it."

Favorite Quotes: 

"My mouth is open and I'm suddenly some kind of fish out of water.  You can't see the hook, but it must be in my cheek."

"I don't want to know how you did it.  I want to believe that you're magic."

 

Blurb:

Willow is a twelve-year old genius who certainly doesn't fit in with the crowd.  She is obsessed with plants, medical conditions, and the number seven. Her safe haven is to be in the public library, surrounded by books, where she finds comfort and solace.  She has only conected with her adoptive parents and after they're killed in an accident, Willow must search for a surrogate family. Will Willow Chance find where she belongs?
 

Within its pages:
Willow Chance......You had us at page one!  Willow's strong voice echoes throughout all the pages in this book.  Her knack for accurately analyzing and depicting each scenario and character is both astonishing and refreshing.    Willow's determination, tenacity, and intelligence will astound and inspire you.  She is clearly wise beyond her years, as evident in some of the following lines:

"It had been my experience that rewarding and heart-breaking often go hand in hand."

"What we expect rarely occurs; what we don't expect is what happens.'

"I can't risk heading in what feels like the wrong direction."

"I'll be ready.  I'm not sure for what exactly. But maybe that's what being ready really means."

"A second can feel like forever if what follows is heart-break."

"She' s always the toughest person in the room, but with me leaving her armor cracks."

"Balance is critical in the natural world."

Shelf  it! (Counting by 7 reasons to shelf this book)

1.  Willow Chance.  Enough said!

2.  Willow will encourage you to think bigger! You will immediately be smitten with this twelve-year old genius, and then proceed to fall head over heels with the supporting characters.  The author has written such a touching and poignat book. She has created a cast of ordinary, everyday folk:  a fiesty teenager and her cranky brother, a nail salon owner, a taxi driver, an oddball counselor...And turned them into everyday heroes.

3.  Willow is the prototypical underdog in this book.  She is misunderstood and an outsider. You will find yourself rooting for her the entire book. 

4.  In times of despair and sorrow, this novel reminds us that hope can manifest and grow in unexpected places, and that miracles really do happen. 

5.  The prevalent themes of unconventional family, loss, grief, and belonging, combined with a strong-female character make it a book that begs to be shared. 

6.  Counting by 7s is a heart-warming story that promises to leave the characters lingering in your mind long after you turn the final page.  Don't be surprised if you can't put it down.  It's really that good!

7.  Willow Chance (In Case we didn't already mention it).